Patent ID: 7243373
Filing Date: 2007-07-10
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer program product stored on a computer recordable medium for controlling a computer, said computer program product comprising: (i) scan request receiving logic operable to receive a request to perform an on-access malware scan upon a computer file to which access is to be made; (ii) scan dividing logic operable to divide said on-access malware scan into a plurality of tasks; (iii) task issuing logic operable to issue said plurality of tasks to be performed by a plurality of different computers; and (iv) result collating logic operable to collate a plurality of task results corresponding to said plurality of tasks and received from said plurality of different computer to form a scan result corresponding to said on-access malware scan; wherein said scan dividing logic divides said on-access malware scan in response to a complexity metric exceeding a predetermined threshold, where the complexity metric is dependent on at least one parameter; wherein the complexity metric is dependent on a plurality of parameters including a computer file type, a level of nesting of embedded computer files, an initial attempt to scan said computer file which exceeded a predetermined time, and a level of utilization of a local processor.