Importance

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Abstract

System, method, and computer readable medium for examining a file (1) associated with an originating computer (2) to determine whether a virus is present within the file (1). File (1) contains at least one sector and is scanned by an antivirus module (3). An identification and hash value of each scanned sector, a date of an update to antivirus module (3), and a version number of antivirus module (3) are stored into a critical sectors file (4). Hash values can be calculated by an antivirus accelerator module (5). An authentication module (12) affixes a digital signature to critical sectors file (4). File (1), critical sectors file (4), and digital signature (15) are then transmitted over network (14) to a recipient computer (11). File (1) sectors that were scanned by originating computer (2) are examined by antivirus module (3'). Each of these sectors again has its hash value calculated and compared with the hash value of the corresponding sector as stored within critical sectors file (4). When any calculated hash value fails to match a corresponding stored hash value for any sector, antivirus module (3') is commanded to rescan the entire file (1). Recipient computer (11) decrypts the digital signature (15) produced by originating computer (2) to verify the authenticity of the contents of critical sectors file (4).

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First Claim