Patent ID: 7739741
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a computer in a network of computers, comprising: receiving a beacon signal from one other computer in the network, said beacon signal identifying said other computer and comprising an indication of a software which has been running on the other computer; comparing the indication against a record of acceptable software so as to identify non-acceptable software use on the other computer; and if non-acceptable software use is identified then raising an alert level of the computer; wherein the indication of the software comprises the beacon signal having been encrypted using an internal state of the other computer as part of an encryption key; wherein the beacon signal provides to the computer an indication of the alert level of the other computer and an indication of whether the other computer is a trusted or non-trusted member of the network; and determining an alert level for the computer based on the indication of the alert level and the indication of the trusted or non-trusted nature of the other computer.