Patent ID: 7694296

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for preventing an unauthorized install of a software module on a computer, said method comprising the steps of: detecting an attempt to open an install instructions file that includes instructions for installing the software module on the computer; checking the install instructions file for presence of a filtering attribute, wherein the presence of the filtering attribute indicates that unauthorized install prevention is implemented on the computer; responsive to a positive determination that the filtering attribute is present, identifying at least one install condition specified by the install instructions file, the at least one install condition comprising whether a specified process relationship exists in the computer, wherein the at least one install condition identifies a master installer process and a second installer process invoked by the master installer process to execute the install of the software module according to the instructions in the install instructions file, and wherein the specified process relationship comprises the second installer process being a child process of the master installer process; determining whether the at least one install condition is satisfied; and aborting the install if the at least one install condition is not satisfied.