Preventing propagation of malicious content in a virtual universe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9785909-B2
Application number	US-54846209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2009
Priority date	Aug 27, 2009
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

An invention for preventing propagation of malicious content within a virtual universe is provided. In one embodiment, a malicious content propagation prevention tool provides this capability. The malicious content propagation prevention tool includes a scanning component configured to scan a plurality of inventory items within a virtual universe. An identification component is configured to identify a set of malicious inventory from the plurality of inventory items. The malicious content propagation prevention tool further comprises an assurance component configured to prevent propagation of malicious content within the virtual universe by performing at least one of the following: isolating the set of malicious inventory items, and modifying a malicious behavior caused by the set of malicious inventory items.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for preventing propagation of malicious content within a virtual universe, comprising:
a computing device determining whether an avatar has entered a new region in the virtual universe;
the computing device scanning, in response to a determination that the avatar has entered the new region in the virtual universe, a plurality of inventory items within an inventory of an avatar within the virtual universe, the virtual universe being a server-based virtual environment in a client-server system in which a plurality of client users interact with each other and with the virtual environment via avatars associated with the client users, each inventory item of the plurality of inventory items being a virtual item that is associated with the avatar, visible within the virtual universe and usable by the avatar within the virtual universe,
the computing device determining whether the avatar has received an item from another avatar;
the computing device scanning, in response to a determination that the avatar has received an item from another avatar, the plurality of inventory items;
the computing device determining whether the avatar has purchased an item;
the computing device scanning, in response to a determination that the avatar has the avatar has purchased an item, the plurality of inventory items;
the computing device determining whether the avatar has teleported;
the computing device scanning, in response to a determination that the avatar has teleported, the plurality of inventory items;
the computing device determining whether the avatar has used an item;
the computing device scanning, in response to a determination that the avatar has used an item, the plurality of inventory items;
the computing device determining whether the avatar has interacted with an item;
the computing device scanning, in response to a determination that the avatar has interacted with an item, the plurality of inventory items;
the computing device identifying a set of malicious inventory items from the plurality of inventory items;
the computing device providing a visual notification rendered within the virtual universe identifying the set of malicious inventory items; and
the computing device preventing propagation of malicious content within the virtual universe by replacing the set of malicious inventory items with a set of non-malicious inventory items within the inventory of the avatar.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising generating, along with the visual notification, at least one of the following: a certification sent by postal mail, a telephone call, and a text message, and wherein the visual notification comprises at least one of: a message provided in the virtual universe, a visual change in the color of the set of malicious inventory items, and a visual warning displayed on the set of malicious inventory items.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the computing device charging a fee for performing at least one of the following: isolating the set of malicious inventory items, modifying a malicious behavior caused by the set of malicious inventory items, and providing a notification in the case that a set of malicious inventory items is identified.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising sending the set of malicious inventory items to a quarantined section to prevent the set of malicious inventory items from being at least one of the following: used, traded, and removed from the inventory.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising modifying the set of malicious inventor items by erasing a portion of virtual language programming code that is causing the malicious behavior.

6. A computer system for preventing propagation of malicious content within a virtual universe, comprising:
at least one processing unit;
memory operably associated with the at least one processing unit; and
a malicious content propagation prevention tool storable in memory and executable by the at least one processing unit, the malicious content propagation prevention tool comprising:
an event handler configured to check for an occurrence of a set of events, including:
an avatar entering a new region in the virtual universe;
the avatar receiving an item from another avatar;
the avatar purchasing an item;
the avatar teleporting;
the avatar using an item; and
the avatar interacting with an item;

a scanning component configured to scan, in response to the occurrence of any of the set of events, a plurality of inventory items within an inventory of an avatar within a virtual universe, the virtual universe being a server-based virtual environment in a client-server system in which a plurality of client users interact with each other and with the virtual environment via avatars associated with the client users, each inventory item of the plurality of inventory items being a virtual item that is associated with the avatar, visible within the virtual universe and usable by the avatar within the virtual universe,
an identification component configured to identify a set of malicious inventory items from the plurality of inventory items;
a notification component configured to provide a visual notification rendered in the virtual universe in the case that a set of malicious inventory items is identified; and
an assurance component configured to prevent propagation of malicious content within the virtual universe by replacing the set of malicious inventory items with a set of non-malicious inventory items within the inventory of the avatar.

7. The malicious content propagation prevention tool according to claim 6 , the notification component further configured to generate, along with the visual notification, at least one of the following: a certification sent by postal mail, a telephone call, and a text message, and wherein the visual notification comprises at least one of: a message provided in the virtual universe, a visual change in the color of the set of malicious inventory items, and a visual warning displayed on the set of malicious inventory items.

8. The malicious content propagation prevention tool according to claim 6 further comprising a transaction component configured to charge a fee for performing at least one of the following: isolating the set of malicious inventory items, modifying a malicious behavior caused by the set of malicious inventory items, and providing a notification in the case that a set of malicious inventory items is identified.

9. The malicious content propagation prevention tool according to claim 6 , the assurance component configured to send the set of malicious inventory items to a quarantined section to prevent the set of malicious inventory items from being at least one of the following: used, traded, and removed from the inventory.

10. The malicious content propagation prevention tool according to claim 6 , the assurance component further configured to modify the set of malicious inventor items by erasing a portion of virtual language programming code that is causing the malicious behavior.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system to prevent propagation of malicious content within a virtual universe, the computer instructions comprising:
checking for an occurrence of a set of events, including:
an avatar entering a new region in the virtual universe;
the avatar receiving an item from another avatar;
the avatar purchasing an item;
the avatar teleporting;
the avatar using an item; and
the avatar interacting with an item;

scanning, in response to the occurrence of any of the set of events, a

Assignees

• Hamilton Ii Rick A
• O'Connell Brian M
• Pickover Clifford A
• Walker Keith R
• IBM

Inventors

• Hamilton Ii Rick A
• O'Connell Brian M
• Pickover Clifford A
• Walker Keith R

Classifications

• G06Q10/40

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title

• G06F21/56

  Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements · CPC title

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06Q50/01

  Physics · mapped topic