Patent ID: 8689330

Claim:
On a client device, a method for providing security from instant messaging malware, comprising: receiving, from a server, malware configuration information stored on the server; receiving at least one instant message from an instant message system; selecting from a plurality of malware scanning components a subset of two or more malware scanners based on the malware configuration information; employing the selected malware scanners to scan the instant message for malware, at least partly based on the malware configuration information; if at least one of the selected malware scanners detects malware, then inhibiting at least one other of the selected malware scanners from scanning; transmitting to the server an identification of the detected malware and an identification of the at least one of the selected malware scanners that detected the malware; receiving, in response to the transmission, further configuration information providing an order for applying the selected scanners to subsequent instant messages, the further configuration information is based on a determination of effectiveness of the selected scanners in detecting malware as made from the transmission; and altering application of the selected scanners so that the selected scanners are applied on the subsequent instant messages in the order specified in the further configuration information.