COMPUTER VIRUS REJECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

Access to the operating system (16) of a computer (10) by a computer virus carried by incoming message data is precluded by directing the incoming message data to a containment field device (22) separate from and parallel to the operating system (16) so as to quarantine the message data from the operating system (16), then diagnosing the quarantined message data for aberrant data indicative of the presence of a computer virus and, should aberrant data be detected, denying access to the operating system (16), thereby precluding access by the computer virus to the operating system (16). The malignant message data then is rejected and may be traced and then returned to the source of the message.