Patent ID: 8745745
Filing Date: 2014-06-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for processing information securely, the method comprising: partitioning hardware platform resources via a separation kernel hypervisor into a plurality of guest operating system virtual machine protection domains; isolating the domains in time and space from each other; hosting the plurality of guest operating system virtual machine protection domains by the separation kernel hypervisor; providing a dedicated virtualization assistance layer (VAL) including a virtual representation of the hardware platform in each of the guest operating system virtual machine protection domains such that the dedicated VAL security processing is not performed in the separation kernel hypervisor; hosting at least one rootkit defense mechanism that executes within the virtual hardware platform in each of the plurality of guest operating system virtual machine protection domains via the separation kernel hypervisor; upon detection of suspect behavior, securely transition execution to the rootkit defense mechanism within the VAL in a manner isolated from the guest operating system; securely determining, via the rootkit defense mechanism, a policy decision regarding the suspect behavior; and transitioning execution back to the separation kernel hypervisor to continue processing regarding enforcement of or taking action in connection with the policy decision.