IP Library Granted Patent US 11,050,775
Granted Patent B2
US 11,050,775 · App. 16/588,589 · Granted Jun 29, 2021

IoT and PoS anti-malware strategy

Inventors: Sean T. Tiernan (Santa Clara, CA); Simon Hunt (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: McAfee, LLC
H04L63/1425G06F21/52H04L41/069H04L41/0686
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,050,775
App. No.
16/588,589
Granted
Jun 29, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture for IoT and PoS anti-malware are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a combination of function calls. Whether the combination of function calls is a forbidden combination of function calls for the device is detected based on a limited intended functionality of the device. The forbidden combination of function calls includes a first function call and a second function call. The first function call is allowed in isolation from the second function call. The second function call is allowed in isolation from the first function call. In response to determining that the combination of function calls is forbidden for the device, a responsive action is performed.

Claims (43)

1. An apparatus for providing security for a device, the apparatus comprising:

memory; and

one or more processors to execute machine readable instructions to cause the one or more processors to at least:

in response to detecting a first function call, identify a second function call in a log of function calls;

determine whether a combination of the first function call and the second function call is forbidden for execution by the device based on a limited intended functionality of the device, the first function call allowed in isolation from the second function call, the second function call allowed in isolation from the first function call; and

in response to determining that the combination of the first function call and the second function call is forbidden for the device, perform a responsive action.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein to perform the responsive action, the one or more processors is to at least one of:

prevent the first function call from executing;

disable the device; and

generate a notification.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors is to cause transmission of the notification to a user device.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors is to cause transmission of the notification to a remote server, the notification including data regarding the combination of the first function call and the second function call.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is to store a record of the first function call in the log of function calls.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is to determine whether the combination of the first function call and the second function call is forbidden by determining that the combination of the first function call and the second function call is associated with a forbidden parameter for the device, the combination of the first function call and the second function call rendered forbidden based on the forbidden parameter causing the function call to represent functionality outside the limited intended functionality of the device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is to:

access, from a server, an updated list of forbidden function calls; and

monitor the device to detect a further forbidden function call using the updated list of forbidden function calls.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the updated list of forbidden function calls is specific to an intended functionality of the device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device is a point of sale device.

10. At least one machine readable storage disk or storage device comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to at least:

in response to detecting a first function call, identify a second function call in a log of function calls;

determine whether a combination of the first function call and the second function call is a forbidden combination of function calls based on a limited intended functionality of the device, the first function call allowed in isolation from the second function call, the second function call allowed in isolation from the first function call; and

in response to determining that the combination of the first function call and the second function call is forbidden, perform a responsive action.

11. The at least one machine readable storage disk or storage device of claim 10 , wherein the responsive action includes at least one of:

preventing execution of the first function call from executing;

disabling the device; and

generating a notification.

12. The at least one machine readable storage disk or storage device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to at least cause transmission of the notification to a user device.

13. The at least one machine readable storage disk or storage device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to at least cause transmission of the notification to a remote server, the notification including data regarding the combination of the first function call and the second function call for analysis.

14. The at least one machine readable storage disk or storage device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to store a record of the first function call in the log of function calls.

15. The at least one machine readable storage disk or storage device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to at least determine whether the combination of the first function call and the second function call is forbidden by determining that the combination of the first function call and the second function call is associated with a forbidden parameter for the device, the forbidden parameter to cause the combination of function calls to represent functionality outside the limited intended functionality of the device.

16. The at least one machine readable storage disk or storage device of claim 10 , wherein the combination of the first function call and the second function call includes one or more API calls.

17. A method to provide security in a device, the method comprising:

detecting a first function call;

in response to detecting a first function call, identifying, by executing an instruction with a processor, a second function call in a log of function calls;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, whether the combination of the first function call and the second function call is forbidden based on a limited intended functionality of the device, the first function call allowed in isolation from the second function call, the second function call allowed in isolation from the first function call; and

in response to determining that the combination of the first function call and the second function call is forbidden, performing a responsive action.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the responsive action includes at least one of:

preventing the first function call from executing;

disabling the device; and

generating a notification.

19. The method of claim 18 , further including storing a record of the first function call in the log of function calls.

20. The method of claim 18 , further including transmitting the notification to a remote server, the notification including data regarding the function call.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE PATENT TITLES AND REMOVE DUPLICATES IN THE SCHEDULE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 059354 FRAME: 0335. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 060792/0307 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2022
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059354/0335 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2020
From: TIERNAN, SEAN T.; HUNT, SIMON
To: MCAFEE, INC.
Reel/Frame 051476/0139 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 10, 2020
From: MCAFEE, INC.
To: MCAFEE, LLC
Reel/Frame 051564/0747 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16116452 · Aug 29, 2018
Continuation 15087110 · Mar 31, 2016
Related Publication 20200106794A1 · Apr 2, 2020