US5359659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for securing software against corruption by computer viruses
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-06-19
•
Granted: 1994-10-25
•
Expires: 2012-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for securing an existing executable software program against infection or corruption by software viruses or the like, without requiring any modification to the program's source code or any recompilation or relinking. Security routines capable of detecting the presence of any virus infection or other corruption are coupled to the program. The loading information for the program is modified so that upon any attempt to execute the program, the security routines will execute first and scan for viruses or other corruption. If any viruses or corruption are detected, execution of the program is aborted and a warning is displayed. If no viruses or corruption are found, the security routines are removed from memory and execution of the program continues normally.
Inventors
- 👤 Doren Rosenthal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/50; G06F21/55; G06F21/56; G06F21/562; G06F21/564; G06F21/565; G06F11/00; G06F11/30; G06F11/32; G06F11/324; G06F11/327; G06F12/00; G06F12/14; G06F12/1408
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of using a computer system to secure against corruption by virus an existing executable software program, said computer system having one or more storage media, said existing executable software program being stored on at least one of said storage media, said method comprising the steps of: identifying one or more security routines, said one or more security routines to detect corruption by virus of said existing executable software program and to detect the presence of corruption by virus of portions of said computer system external to said existing executable software program; modifying electronic signals representative of said existing executable software program to cause said computer system to execute said one or more security routines first during each execution of said existing routines to said software program; and storing said modifications to said existing executable software program.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of using a computer system to secure against corruption by virus an existing executable software program, said computer system having one or more storage media, said existing executable software program being stored on at least one of said storage media, said method comprising the steps of: identifying one or more security routines, said one or more security routines to detect corruption by virus of said existing executable software program and to detect the presence of corruption by virus of portions of said computer system external to said existing executable software program; modifying electronic signals representative of said existing executable software program to cause said computer system to execute said one or more security routines first during each execution of said existing routines to said software program; and storing said modifications to said existing executable software program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of storing said one or more security routines to at least one of said storage media.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying step further includes the step of modifying electronic signals representative of loading information associated with said existing executable software program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said loading information is stored contiguously with said existing executable software program.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said loading information is stored separately from said existing executable software program.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said storage media comprise one or more memories and at least one of said one or more security routines scans for the presence of corruption by virus in said one or more memories.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said storage media comprise one or more mass storage devices and at least one of said one or more security routines scans for the presence of corruption by virus on said one or more mass storage devices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said one or more security routines computes and verifies one or more checksum test values for said existing executable software program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said one or more security routines computes and verifies one or more cyclic redundancy check test values for said existing executable software program.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying step further includes the step of encrypting said existing executable software program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of said one or more security routines decrypts said existing executable software program.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying step further includes the step of compressing said existing executable software program.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of said one or more security routines decompresses said existing executable software program.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said one or more security routines warns an operator of said computer system when any corruption by virus is detected by said one or more security routines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said one or more security routines aborts the execution of said existing executable software program when any corruption by virus is detected by said one or more security routines.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for securing against corruption by virus an existing executable software program, said apparatus comprising: a computer system comprising one or more storage media, said existing executable software program stored on at least one of said storage media; means for identifying one or more security routines, said one or more security routines to detect corruption by virus of said existing executable software program and to detect corruption by virus of portions of said computer system external to said existing executable software program; means for modifying electronic signals representative of said existing executable software program to cause said computer system to execute said one or more security routines first during each execution of said existing executable software program; and means for storing said modifications to said existing executable software program.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for securing against corruption by virus an existing executable software program, said apparatus comprising: a computer system comprising one or more storage media, said existing executable software program stored on at least one of said storage media; means for identifying one or more security routines, said one or more security routines to detect corruption by virus of said existing executable software program and to detect corruption by virus of portions of said computer system external to said existing executable software program; means for modifying electronic signals representative of said existing executable software program to cause said computer system to execute said one or more security routines first during each execution of said existing executable software program; and means for storing said modifications to said existing executable software program.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a means for storing said one or more security routines to at least one of said storage media.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said modifying means further includes means for modifying electronic signals representative of loading information associated with said existing executable software program.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said loading information is stored contiguously with said existing executable software program on at least one of said storage media.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said loading information is stored on at least one of said storage media and separately from said existing executable software program.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said storage media comprise one or more memories and at least one of said one or more security routines scans for the presence of corruption by virus in said one or more memories.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said media comprise one or more mass storage devices and at least one of said one or more security routines scans for the presence of corruption by virus on said one or more mass storage devices.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of said one or more security routines computes and verifies one or more checksum test values for said existing executable software program.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of said one or more security routines computes and verifies one or more cyclic redundancy check test values for said existing executable software program.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 16, said modifying means further including a means for encrypting said existing executable software program.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 25, wherein at least one of said one or more security routines decrypts said existing executable software program.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 16, said modifying means further including a means for compressing said existing executable software program.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least one of said one or more security routines decompresses said software program.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of said one or more security routines warns an operator of said computer system when any corruption by virus is detected by said one or more security routines.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of said one or more security routines aborts the execution of said existing executable software program when any corruption by virus is detected by said one or more security routines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5144660A
Cited
US4975950A
Cited
US5121345A
Cited
US5289540A
Cited
US5274819A
Cited
US5278901A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-24 | 1998-04-25 | 1998-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-24 | 2002-04-25 | 2002-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-24 | 2006-04-25 | 2006-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |