IP Library Granted Patent US 8,819,826
Granted Patent B2
US 8,819,826 · App. 12/694,988 · Granted Aug 26, 2014

Method and system for detection of malware that connect to network destinations through cloud scanning and web reputation

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,819,826
App. No.
12/694,988
Granted
Aug 26, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for detecting malware includes the steps of identifying a one or more open network connections of an electronic device, associating one or more executable objects on the electronic device with the one or more open network connections of the electronic device, determining the address of a first network destination that is connected to the open network connections of the electronic device, receiving an evaluation of the first network destination, and identifying one or more of the executable objects as malware executable objects. The evaluation includes an indication that the first network destination is associated with malware. The malware executable objects includes the executable objects that are associated with the open network connections that are connected to the first network destination.

Claims (60)

1. A method for detecting malware, comprising the steps of:

identifying one or more open network connections of an electronic device;

associating one or more executable objects on the electronic device with the one or more open network connections of the electronic device;

determining the address of a first network destination that is connected to the open network connections of the electronic device;

receiving an evaluation of the first network destination, the evaluation comprising an indication that the first network destination is associated with malware; and

identifying one or more of the executable objects as malware executable objects based on the evaluation of the first network destination, wherein the malware executable objects comprise the executable objects that are associated with the open network connections that are connected to the first network destination.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of cleaning the one or more malware executable objects from the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of for each malware executable object, identifying a second network destination connected to the open network connections, wherein the malware executable object is associated with the open network connections that are connected to the second network destination.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of reporting the second network destination to a reputation application.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of blocking access to the second network destination.

6. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

computer-executable instructions carried on the non-transitory computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to:

identify a one or more open network connections of an electronic device;

associate one or more executable objects on the electronic device with the one or more open network connections of the electronic device;

determine the address of a first network destination that is connected to the open network connections of the electronic device;

receive an evaluation of the first network destination, the evaluation comprising an indication that the first network destination is associated with malware; and

identify one or more of the executable objects as malware executable objects based on the evaluation of the first network destination, wherein the malware executable objects comprise the executable objects that are associated with the open network connections that are connected to the first network destination.

7. The article of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further caused to clean the one or more malware executable objects from the electronic device.

8. The article of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further caused to, for each malware executable object, identify a second network destination connected to the open network connections, wherein the malware executable object is associated with the open network connections that are connected to the second network destination.

9. The article of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further caused to report the second network destination to a reputation application.

10. The article of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further caused to block access to the second network destination.

11. A method of evaluating the reputation of a network destination, comprising the steps of:

receiving information about a first network destination and a second network destination from a monitor, wherein:

the monitor is scanning an electronic device for malware; and

the first network destination and the second network destination are in communication with an executable object on the electronic device;

accessing reputation information about the first network destination in a reputation database;

determining that the reputation information indicates that the first network destination is associated with malware;

sending the evaluation to the monitor; and

associating the reputation of the second network destination with the first network destination.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the reputation information comprises a reputation score.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of: creating an entry in the reputation database for a network destination, if the reputation database did not previously comprise an entry for the network destination.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second network destination did not have a prior association with malware.

15. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

computer-executable instructions carried on the non-transitory computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to:

receive information about a first network destination and a second network destination from a monitor, wherein:

the monitor is scanning an electronic device for malware; and

the first network destination and the second network destination are in communication with an executable object on the electronic device;

access reputation information about the first network destination in a reputation database;

determine that the reputation information indicates that the network destination is associated with malware;

send the evaluation to the monitor; and

associate the reputation of the second network destination with the first network destination.

16. The article of claim 15 , wherein the reputation information comprises a reputation score.

17. The article of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further caused to create an entry in the reputation database for a network destination, if the reputation database did not previously comprise an entry for the network destination.

18. The article of claim 15 , wherein the second network destination did not have a prior association with malware.

19. A system for detection of malware, comprising:

a hardware processor;

a monitor configured to:

be operated by the hardware processor;

identify one or more open network connections of an electronic device;

identify one or more executable objects on the electronic device using the one or more open network connections of the electronic device; and

determine the address of a first network destination that is connected to the one or more open network connections of the electronic device;

receive an evaluation of the first network destination, the evaluation comprising an indication that the first network destination is associated with malware; and

determine one or more malware executable objects based on the evaluation of the first network destination, wherein the one or more malware executable objects comprise the executable objects in communication with the first network destination evaluated to be associated with malware.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the monitor is further configured to clean the one or more malware executable objects from the electronic device.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the monitor is further configured to, for each malware executable object, determine a second network destination connected to the open network connections, wherein the malware executable object is associated with the open network connections that are connected to the second network destination.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the monitor is further configured to report the second network destination to a reputation application.

23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the monitor is further caused to block access to the second network destination.

24. The system of claim 19 , wherein the reputation information comprises a reputation score.

Assignments (8)
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 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL - REEL/FRAME 045056/0676 Recorded Mar 2, 2022
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MCAFEE, LLC
Reel/Frame 059354/0213 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL - REEL/FRAME 045055/0786 Recorded Oct 26, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MCAFEE, LLC
Reel/Frame 054238/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE PATENT 6336186 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 045056 FRAME 0676. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Oct 22, 2020
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 054206/0593 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE PATENT 6336186 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 045055 FRAME 786. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Oct 22, 2020
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 055854/0047 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2018
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 045055/0786 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2018
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 045056/0676 →