Patent Abstract:
A method for detecting memory modifications includes allocating a contiguous block of a memory of an electronic device, and loading instructions for detecting memory modifications into the contiguous block of memory. The electronic device includes a plurality of processing entities. The method also includes disabling all but one of a plurality of processing entities of the electronic device, scanning the memory of the electronic device for modifications performed by malware, and, if a memory modification is detected, repairing the memory modification. The method also includes enabling the processing entities that were disabled. The remaining processing entity executes the instructions for detecting memory modifications.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to relates generally to computer security and malware protection and, more particularly, to a method for atomic detection and repair of kernel memory. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Computer malware operating in a multi-core or multi-processor environment may be difficult to detect and remove. In addition, such malware may make malicious modifications to kernel memory of a computer system. Such malware may thus be running at a very low level of a system. 
         [0003]    Atomic operation of instructions on a processor or core may mean the ability of those instructions to run without being interrupted by the system. The ability of a process, thread, or other set of instructions to run atomically on a system may be handled by establishing a hierarchy of such instructions. The ability of one instruction to be executed over another may be resolved by determining which instruction was first received, or which one is the shorter or lower-level instruction. 
         [0004]    Malware may include, but is not limited to, spyware, rootkits, password stealers, spam, sources of phishing attacks, sources of denial-of-service-attacks, viruses, loggers, Trojans, adware, or any other digital content that produces malicious activity. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A method for detecting memory modifications includes allocating a contiguous block of a memory of an electronic device, and loading instructions for detecting memory modifications into the contiguous block of memory. The electronic device includes a plurality of processing entities. The method also includes disabling all but one of a plurality of processing entities of the electronic device, scanning the memory of the electronic device for modifications performed by malware, and, if a memory modification is detected, repairing the memory modification. The method also includes enabling the processing entities that were disabled. The remaining processing entity executes the instructions for detecting memory modifications. 
         [0006]    In a further embodiment, an article of manufacture includes a computer readable medium and computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions are carried on the computer readable medium. The instructions are readable by a processor. The instructions, when read and executed, cause the processor to allocate a contiguous block of a memory of an electronic device, load instructions for detecting memory modifications into the contiguous block of memory, disable all but one processing entity of the electronic device, scan the memory of an electronic device for modifications performed by malware, repair a detected memory modification, and enable the processing entities that were disabled. The electronic device includes a plurality of processing entities. The remaining processing entity executes the instructions for detecting memory modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
         [0007]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following written description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an example embodiment of a system for atomic detection and repair of kernel memory based malware in a multi-core processor environment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a further illustration of the components of an electronic device in a system for atomic detection and repair of kernel memory; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an example embodiment of a method for atomic detection and repair of kernel memory-based malware in a multi-core processor environment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is an example embodiment of a system  100  for atomic detection and repair of kernel memory based malware in a multi-core processor environment. System  100  may comprise an anti-malware application  102  configured to scan electronic device  104  for malware. Anti-malware application  102  may be configured to operate on electronic device  104 . Anti-malware application  102  may be communicatively coupled to electronic device  104  over a network. Anti-malware application  102  may be configured to run on a network such as a cloud computing network. Anti-malware application  102  may be communicatively coupled to an anti-malware server  114  over a network such as network  112 . Anti-malware application  102  may be configured to determine the presence of kernel-memory-related malware on electronic device  104 . Electronic device  104  may include multiple processing entities. In one embodiment, such processing entities may include processors or processing cores. Electronic device  104  may include a multicore processor environment. 
         [0012]    Electronic device  104  may include one or more processors  106  coupled to a memory  108 . Processors  106  may each include one or more cores  110 . One or more processors  106  may each be coupled to other processors  106 . For example, processor  106 A may include core  110 A and core  110 B. Processor  106 A may be coupled to processor  106 B,  106 C and  106 D. In one embodiment, each processor  106  may include an even number of cores. In various embodiments, processor  106  may include two cores, four cores or eight cores. Each processor  106  may include an interrupt controller. In one embodiment, processors  106  may each include an advanced programmable interrupt controller (“APIC”). APIC  116  may be configured to combine interrupts into one or more communication mechanisms per processor  106 . APIC  116  may be configured to assign priority to one or more interrupts received by processor  106 . 
         [0013]    Anti-malware application  102  may be configured to receive detection information from anti-malware server  112 . Such detection information, may include, but is not limited to, antivirus signatures, behavioral rules, reputation analysis or any other suitable mechanism for detecting the presence of malware on electronic devices such as electronic device  104 . Anti-malware application  102  may be configured to apply detection information for the detection of malware on electronic device  104  at any suitable time. For example, anti-malware application  102  may be configured to scan electronic device  104  upon demand by a user or administrator of electronic device  104  for malware, or at a regularly scheduled or periodic time. In yet another embodiment, anti-malware application  102  may be configured to scan electronic device  104  for malware upon the detection of suspicious behavior or evidence indicating that electronic device  104  may be infected with malware. 
         [0014]    Network  112 , or any other networks used in system  100 , may include any suitable networks for communication between electronic device  104 , anti-malware application  102 , and anti-malware server  114 . Such networks may include but are not limited to: the Internet, an intranet, wide-area-networks, local-area-networks, back-haul-networks, peer-to-peer-networks, or any combination thereof. 
         [0015]    Each of processors  106  may be implemented, for example, by a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other digital or analog circuitry configured to interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data. In some embodiments, each of processors  106  may interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data stored in memory  108 . Memory  108  may be configured in part or whole as application memory, system memory, or both. Memory  108  may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to hold and/or house one or more memory modules. Each memory module may include any system, device or apparatus configured to retain program instructions and/or data for a period of time (e.g., computer-readable media). 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a further illustration of the components of electronic device  104  in a system for atomic detection and repair of kernel memory. Electronic device  104  may include, for example, one or more processors  106 A and  106 B, operating system  206 , kernel memory  208 , and various memory allocations such as processor memory allocation  204  and core memory allocation  206 . Each processor  106  may contain one or more cores  110 . Each core  110  may be assigned a memory allocation, such as core memory allocation  204 . Each processor  106  may be assigned a processor memory allocation  206 . Each processor  106  may be coupled to other processors. Each core  110  may be configured to access operating system  206  or various sections of memory such as kernel memory  208 . Each core  110  on a processor  106  may be configured to have one or more threads running in such a core. For example, core  110 B of processor  106 A may be executing Thread_ 1   206 . In another example, processor  106 B may contain core  110   c  which may be executing Thread_ 2   208 . 
         [0017]    Operating system  206  may be configured to provide system services to electronic device  104 . Operating system  206  may be implemented in any suitable software for providing operating system services to an electronic device. Operating system  206  may be coupled to kernel memory  208 . 
         [0018]    Anti-malware application  102  may be configured to scan electronic device  104  for the presence of malware by the execution of anti-malware process  202 . Anti-malware process  202  may execute in any of the cores  110  of any of the processors  106  on electronic device  104 . Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to execute on the primary core of electronic device  104 . Anti-malware process  202  may execute as a standalone process separate from anti-malware application  102 . In one embodiment, anti-malware application  102  may be configured to launch the execution of anti-malware process  202 . In such an embodiment, anti-malware application  102  may be configured to cease execution while anti-malware process  202  continues execution and scanning of malware on electronic device  104 . Anti-malware process may be configured to scan kernel memory  208  for evidence of kernel mode memory malware. Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to use various parts of operating system  206  in order to scan kernel memory  208  for malware. 
         [0019]    Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to scan any suitable portion of kernel memory  208  which may be infected with malware, or affected by such an infection. For example, anti-malware process  202  may be configured to scan a file system driver stack  210 , network driver stack  212 , display driver stack  214 , device driver code  216 , kernel code  218 , keyboard driver stack  220 , active process list  222 , open network sockets  224 , or system service dispatch table  226  for indications of malware. Malware, or indicators of malware, may be present in various portions of kernel memory  208 . Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to detect and undo the effects of malware in kernel memory  208  of malware operating in cores such as  110 A,  110 B and  110   c.    
         [0020]    Other anti-malware software may be limited to detecting the operation of malware processes only in the same core in which the other anti-malware software is currently operating. However, in the example of  FIG. 2 , while anti-malware process  202  is operating in core  110 A, anti-malware process  202  may be configured to detect the effects of malware of threads operating in other cores, such as Thread_ 1   206  in core  110 B, or Thread_ 2   208  in core  110   c . If malware, operating as part of Thread_ 1   206  or Thread_ 2   208 , detect the presence or scanning and repairing operation of anti-malware process  202 , such malware may tamper with, obstruct, remove, or otherwise counteract anti-malware process  202  or the changes enacted by anti-malware process  202 . One way that such malware may hamper anti-malware process  202  is by configuring Thread_ 1   206  or Thread_ 2   208  to have a higher priority or an equal priority to anti-malware process  202 . For example, Thread_ 1   206  and Thread_ 2   208  may be operating in a ring zero of the operation of electronic device  104 . As such, the operation of Thread_ 1   206  and Thread_ 2   208  may be described as “atomic.” 
         [0021]    Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to subvert the execution of threads on cores other than the core on which anti-malware process  202  is running in order that anti-malware process  202  may execute atomically, or without risk of interruption by threads operating in other cores or processors. In one embodiment, anti-malware process  202  may be configured to stop the execution of threads on other cores such as Thread_ 1   206  and Thread_ 2   208 , whether such cores are located on the same processor  106  as anti-malware process  202  or not. In a further embodiment, anti-malware process  202  may be configured to cease the operation of the cores other than core  110 A, the core upon which anti-malware process  202 &#39;s is operating. 
         [0022]    Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to allocate a contiguous block of memory in kernel memory  208 . In one embodiment, such a contiguous block of memory may be implemented in kernel non-pageable memory pool  230 . Kernel non-pageable memory pool  230  may include a contiguous block  232  of memory. 
         [0023]    Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to operate inside of kernel non-pageable memory pool  230 . In one embodiment, anti-malware process  202  may be configured to operate inside a contiguous block  232 . Anti-malware application  102  may be configured to set up the execution of anti-malware process  202  inside of kernel non-pageable memory pool  230 . Contiguous block  232  may thus include malware detection and repair logic malware detection and repair logic for scanning kernel memory  208  for malware and for repairing the effects of malware found in kernel memory  208 . Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to turn off all processors in electronic device  104 , except for the processor upon which anti-malware process  202  is running. For example, anti-malware process  202  may be configured to turn off execution of processor  106 B, leaving processor  106 A executing. Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to run on the base system processor. Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to disable interrupts of operating system  206 . Such interrupts may include application interrupts  238 , kernel interrupts  240  and scheduler timer interrupt  242 . Application interrupts  238  may include interrupts that may originate from applications of electronic device  104 . Kernel interrupts  240  may include interrupts that originate from portions of electronic device  104  having kernel level access. Scheduler timer interrupt  242  may comprise an interrupt for scheduling execution of threads in a given processor or core. Interrupts such as application interrupts  238 , kernel interrupts  240  and scheduler timer interrupt  242  may be implemented fully or in part by APIC  116 . Configuring anti-malware process  202  to shut down scheduler timer interrupt  242  may cause all running processes on electronic device  104  to cease operation except anti-malware process  202 . 
         [0024]    Anti-malware process  202  may be configured, when scanning electronic device  104  for memory modifications, to be the only process or thread running on any core  110  or processor  106  of electronic device  104 . Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to then scan kernel memory  208  for modifications made by malware and subsequently repair kernel memory  208  of any such modifications or other effects of malware. Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to scan kernel memory  208  for any suitable memory modification performed by malware. Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to scan any suitable portion of kernel memory  208  for malicious modifications made by malware. 
         [0025]    For example, file system driver stack  210  may be modified to include a malware hook among the different drivers in the stack. Keyboard driver stack  220  may have a key logger hook embedded among one or more other drivers. Active process list  222  may have been modified to eliminate the presence of, for example, Thread_ 2 , in active process list  222 , or may have been modified in such a way to disguise the presence of Thread_ 2  in active process list  222 . Open network sockets  224  may have been modified to eliminate information showing that Port_ 2  is or has been accessed. Code sections of the kernel in kernel code  218  may have been modified by malware, as may have the code of a device driver in device driver code  216 . System service dispatch table  226  may have been modified so as to change a service executable module or other digital entity which is pointed to by entries in system service dispatch table  226 . For example, Service  2  in entry in system service dispatch table  226  may have originally pointed to a particular service  228  posted by operating system  206 . Instead, malware may have modified system service dispatch table  226  entry for Service  2  to point instead to a shared library  227 . Such a redirection may comprise a malware infection. Modifications to kernel data structures such as active process list  222 , open network sockets list  224 , and other data structures may have been made to hide evidence of malware. Changes to various stacks, such as driver stack  210 , keyboard driver stack  220 , network driver stack  212  and display driver stack  214  may have been made by inserting malicious code in a layer of the driver stack to disguise the presence of malware. To detect memory modifications in such elements, anti-malware process  202  may be configured to examine different portions of kernel memory  208  and compare them against, for example, known safe values or known signatures corresponding to malware. 
         [0026]    Because scheduler timer interrupts  242  may have been disabled by anti-malware process  202 , anti-malware process  202  might not be configured to access various features, capabilities or services of operating system  206  while scanning electronic device  104  for malicious memory modifications. For example, anti-malware process  202  might not be able to access various portions of system memory unless the memory is pinned and locked. In another example, anti-malware process  202  may not be configured to access an operating system function unless the function operates independently of creating or referencing a kernel dispatchable object. 
         [0027]    Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to repeatedly enable and disable some or all of operating system  206 , as needed to access various portions of operating system  206  while scanning electronic device  104  for malicious memory modifications. Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to temporarily enable one or more services available of operating system  206 . Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to verify the infection status of a given process or service, or of memory associated with such a given process or service, as not infected by malware before using such a process or service. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, the teachings of the present disclosure may be applied to configure anti-malware process  202  to detect the infection of malware in user mode memory. An example of such user mode memory may be core memory allocations  204 . Possibly malicious threads may be running in such a core memory allocation  204  and may work to subvert the operation of an anti-malware process such as anti-malware process  202 , as anti-malware process  202  attempts to detect and repair memory modifications or process infections in user mode memory. Anti-malware process  202  may be configured to lock a process of a core into a particular segment of core memory allocation  204 , and subsequently scanning and repairing the processed memory into which the thread or process has been locked. 
         [0029]    In operation, one or more processors  106  may be executing one or more threads in one or more cores  110  on electronic device  104 . One or more threads operating on electronic device  104  may be a portion of a malicious program such as malware. In one embodiment, a single processor  106  on electronic device  104  may be executing two or more cores  110 . In another embodiment, two or more processors  106  may be executing on electronic device  104 . In such an embodiment, each processor  106  may have a single core or more than one core  110 . Each core of electronic device  104  may be executing one or more threads. Anti-malware application  102  may receive detection information from anti-malware server  114  over network  112 . Anti-malware application  102  may receive detection information such as logic to determine whether modifications have been made to memory  108  of electronic device  104  that are malicious and possibly created by malware. 
         [0030]    Anti-malware application  102  may be executing on a cloud computing scheme. In another embodiment, anti-malware application  102  may be executing on electronic device  104 . Anti-malware application  102  or anti-malware process  202  may reserve a contiguous block  232  of memory inside of kernel memory  208 . In one embodiment, such a reservation may be made in kernel non-pageable memory pool  230 . Anti-malware process  202  may begin executing in contiguous block  232 . 
         [0031]    Anti-malware process  202  may contain malware detection and repair logic sufficient to scan kernel memory  208  for memory modifications made by malware, and repairing such modifications. Anti-malware application  104  may initiate operation of anti-malware process  202 . 
         [0032]    Anti-malware process  202  may turn off all processors  106  in electronic device  104  except for the processor  106 A upon which anti-malware process  202  is executing. Anti-malware process  202  may switch off the execution of all cores  110  which may be executing on electronic device  104  except for the core  110 A upon which anti-malware process  202  may be executing. Anti-malware process  202  may disable all interrupts of an operating system  206  of electronic device  104 . Such interrupts may include application interrupt  238  including user mode interrupts, kernel interrupts  240  including kernel mode interrupts, and any scheduler timer interrupts  242 . 
         [0033]    Anti-malware process  202  may use any suitable method for disabling the operation of processors  106 , cores  110  and interrupts  238 ,  240 ,  242 . In one embodiment, anti-malware process  202  may directly program electronic device  104  and processors  106  to disable the operation of processors  106  and core  110 . In such an embodiment, anti-malware process  202  may access a programmable interrupt controller of a given processor  106 B. Such a programmable interrupt controller may include advanced programmable interrupt controller (APIC)  116 . The commands or methods used to program advanced programmable interrupt controller  116  may depend upon the specific processor  106  chosen to implement system  100 . Anti-malware process  202  may directly program processor  106 B to disable interrupts and processing by programming APIC  116  using inert processor interrupts. 
         [0034]    In another embodiment, anti-malware process  202  may use a service provided by operating system  206  to disable operation of processor  106 B or of operating system  206 . In such an embodiment, the commands used to disable operation of processor  106 B and operating system  206  may be specific to the operating system  206  running on electronic device  104 . In such an embodiment, a kernel debugging facility of operating system  206  may be used. Such a built in kernel debugger may have services available to freeze and resume execution of operating system  206 . For example, in the kernel mode of the Windows operating system, two instructions may be suitable for use by anti-malware process  202  to disable the operation of processor  106  and operating system  206 . Two such functions are KeFreezeExecution and KeThawExecution. Anti-malware application  102  or anti-malware process  202  may be configured to access such functions by computing their address and calling their functions directly in memory  108 . In such an example, KeFreezeExecution, or an equivalent function, may perform the following steps: (a) disabling interrupts of operating system  206 ; (b) calling an interprocessor interrupt service to notify the service that execution will be frozen; (c) calling into the hardware abstraction layer (HAL) exported function called KeStallExecutionProcessor, to stall processor execution of all processors except the current processor; and (d) notify other processors, such as  106 B, that execution is to be frozen, by sending interprocessor interrupts via the calling the HAL function HalRequestIpi. Anti-malware process  202  may call the freeze function to freeze execution of processors  106  and call the thaw function to unfreeze execution of processors  106 . 
         [0035]    After putting processors  106  or cores  208  in suspended operation, anti-malware process  202  may examine kernel memory  208  for possible malicious memory modifications. For example, anti-malware process  202  may examine file system driver stack  210  to determine whether or not malware has been inserted inside of the driver stack, in the form of a hook. Anti-malware process  202  may similarly examine network driver stack  212  or display driver stack  214 . Anti-malware process  202  may examine keyboard driver stack  220  to determine, for example, whether a key logger hook has been inserted inside of the stack. Such hooks may be used to mine information from memory or to disguise the presence of other malicious pieces of code. Anti-malware process  202  may examine active process list  222  to determine whether any modifications have been made to hide the execution of a malware process. For example, if Thread_ 2   208  operating in core  110   c  on processor  106 B comprises malware, active process list  222  may have been modified to hide the presence of Thread_ 2   208  as an active thread. Anti-malware process  202  may examine open network sockets  224  to determine whether modifications have been made to disguise the network access of an application. Such modifications may be used to hide the network access of malware. For example, if Port_ 2  were being used by Thread_ 2   208 , a malicious process, open network source sockets  224  may be modified to hide the access of Port_ 2 . Anti-malware process  202  may examine system service dispatch table  226  to determine whether service dispatches have been modified to redirect execution to other services, modules, strips or libraries. For example, Service_ 3  may be redirected by malware to point to shared library  227  instead of Service_ 3  of operating system  206 . Such a redirection may be an attempt to run malicious code instead of a trusted service. 
         [0036]    Once anti-malware process  202  has determined a portion of kernel memory  208  has been infected with a memory modification by malware, anti-malware process  202  may take steps to correct the memory modification of kernel memory  208 . To correct memory modifications, anti-malware process  202  may re-enable portions of operating system  206 , access parts of electronic device  104  needed to repair memory modifications by malware, and then again disable operating system  206  and processors  106 . Anti-malware process  202  may clean or verify system components before activating them for the purposes of cleaning other portions of electronic device  104 . For example, if anti-malware process  202  determines that system service dispatch table  226  has been modified by malware, anti-malware process  202  may re-enable portions of operating system  206  to access the original code bytes of the modified image on disk of the system service dispatch table  226 . Anti-malware process  202  may then copy the original code bytes of the modified image and copy them into non-pageable kernel memory  230 . Anti-malware process  202  may then again disable operating system  206  and any processors  106  that have been activated. Anti-malware process  202  may then examine the correct values for the code bytes for the image of system service dispatch table  226 , and repair system service dispatch table  226  in safety without fear of modifications by other malicious malware running in other threads such as Thread_ 2   208 . For malware memory modifications in portions of kernel memory  208 , such as code sections in device driver code  216  or kernel code  218 , that cannot be reloaded, anti-malware process  202  may fill the pages of the memory infection with NOP instructions or place a return or a jump to avoid execution of the malicious code. Anti-malware process  202  may make similar activations and deactivations of portions of operating system  206  or processors  106  in order to systematically scan kernel memory  208  for infections, make repairs, and reactivate portions of operating system  206  and processors  106 , as various portions of operating system  206 , kernel memory  208  and processors  106  are deemed safe and clean by anti-malware process  202 . 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, anti-malware process  202  may be applied to memory that is non-pageable. In such an embodiment, anti-malware process  202 , before freezing execution, may lock memory pages of memory  108  needed to scan. 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, anti-malware process  202  may scan application memory, such as memory allocation  206  or core memory allocation  204 . In such an embodiment, anti-malware process  202  may force an attachment into the target process address space. In the Windows operating system environment, one method for accomplishing such a task is to call the function KeStackAttachProcess. The target applications whose application memory is to be scanned may be locked. Anti-malware process  202  may alternate between switching to different process contexts, freezing and resuming the execution in between scanning and repairing process memories associated with cores  110  or processor  106 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is an example embodiment of a method  300  for atomic detection and repair of kernel memory-based malware in a multi-core processor environment. In Step  305 , a contiguous block of non-pageable memory may be allocated. The contiguous block of kernel memory may be configured for an anti-malware process to operate and scan the kernel memory of an electronic device for memory modifications conducted by malware. In Step  310 , detection and repair instructions may be loaded into the contiguous block. Such detection and repair instructions may make up an anti-malware application or a portion of an anti-malware application. 
         [0040]    In Step  315 , all processors and cores, except for the core and processor upon which the detection and repair instructions are loaded, may be shut down. The anti-malware application may change its thread affinity to make it run on the base system processor or the primary core. In one embodiment, Step  315  may be implemented by directly programming the system or a local processor programmable interrupt controller. In another embodiment, Step  315  may be implemented by an operating system service provided for the shutting down of processors or cores. Such a service may consist of a kernel debugging facility. In a system using a Windows operating system, for example, the kernel mode of the operating system may provide an undocumented instruction called KeFreezeExecution that may freeze execution of a processor or of the operating system. Likewise, another undocumented function, KeThawExecution may be provided to reverse the effects of KeFreezeExecution. 
         [0041]    In Step  320 , system interrupts of the operating system of the electronic device may be disabled. In one embodiment, the system and any processors may be directly programmed using inert processor interrupts. In Step  325 , a scheduler timer interrupt may be disabled. The scheduler timer interrupt disablement may suspend new operations being scheduled by an operating system of the electronic device. In Step  330 , kernel memory may be scanned for malicious modifications conducted by malware. Any suitable part of kernel memory of the electronic device may be scanned for such memory modifications. Such modifications may be in a driver, driver stack, kernel data structures, code sections, or a system service dispatch table. Any suitable method for scanning for memory modifications may be used. 
         [0042]    In Step  335 , if modifications are not found, then in Step  350 , the processors, cores and interrupts of the electronic device may be reactivated. If modifications are found in Step  335 , then processors, cores and interrupts necessary to allow sufficient system access for a repair of the memory modification may be optionally enabled in Step  340 . Whether such resources will be enabled may depend upon the specific type of memory modification and necessary course of repair required, as well as whether such resources may be trusted to be free of malware. In Step  345 , the memory modifications may be reversed, repaired, or otherwise neutralized or corrected. After modifications have been repaired, any processors, cores or interrupts that have been re-enabled may then be disabled. Optionally, Step  330  may be repeated as other portions of kernel memory are scanned for malicious memory modifications until the system has been determined to be cleaned of memory modifications. 
         [0043]    Method  300  may be implemented using the system of  FIGS. 1-2 , or any other system operable to implement method  300 . As such, the preferred initialization point for method  300  and the order of the steps comprising method  300  may depend on the implementation chosen. In some embodiments, some steps may be optionally omitted, repeated, or combined. In some embodiments, portions of method  300  may be combined. In certain embodiments, method  300  may be implemented partially or fully in software embodied in computer-readable media. 
         [0044]    For the purposes of this disclosure, computer-readable media may include any instrumentality or aggregation of instrumentalities that may retain data and/or instructions for a period of time. Computer-readable media may include, without limitation, storage media such as a direct access storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive or floppy disk), a sequential access storage device (e.g., a tape disk drive), compact disk, CD-ROM, DVD, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or flash memory; as well as communications media such wires, optical fibers, and other tangible, non-transitory media; and/or any combination of the foregoing. 
         [0045]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alternations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6