Solving Virus Problems by Anti-Virus Developers- A TRIZ Perspective

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

The anti-virus developers play a very significant role in dealing with the computer viruses. They analyze the problems of different levels of users and find solutions for each of those problems. Their goal is not just to sell the product and make profit out of it. They undertake much greater responsibility to ensure that their product meets the expectations of the users and deals with the viruses efficiently.

Different levels of users dealing with computer face different types of problems. The developer must ensure that the product meets the needs of various levels of users and network administrators. The developer has to employ various strategies to overcome the limitations of signature scanning, heuristic scanning and other methods and ensure speed and efficiency of virus scanning without leading to any false positives or false negatives.

Keywords: Software Innovation, computer virus, anti-virus, anti-virus software, computer vulnerability, computer security, anti-virus design, anti-virus development, inoculation, virus scanning, virus detection, signature scanning, integrity checking, heuristic scanning, emulation, activity monitoring, generic scanning, behavior monitoring, resident scanning, virus database, on-access scanning, Fast scanning, online scanning,

Mishra, Umakant, Solving Virus Problems by Anti-Virus Developers - A TRIZ Perspective (January 2, 2012). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1978385 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1978385

http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=1978385

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/80

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228321311_Solving_Virus_Problems_by_Anti-Virus_Developers_-_A_TRIZ_Perspective

Solving Virus Problems by System Administrators- a TRIZ perspective

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

The computer virus is not only a problem to the end user but also a problem to everybody whoever is associated with computers, including systems administrators, corporate managers and even anti-virus manufacturers. In the previous article we discussed on how to use TRIZ for analyzing and solving virus problems of an end user. In this article we will focus on the problems faced by the systems administrators.

An analysis of virus scenario finds that the same situation of virus infection creates different problems to people at different levels, such as, a computer user, a system administrator, a corporate manager and an anti-virus developer because of the differences in their visions, requirements and goals. As the problems are different for different people, the solutions are also different.

Although an Ideal Final Result is “No Virus”, it is not easy to achieve that state because of some fundamental contradictions. Unless there is a revolutionary change that creates alternative jobs and goals for the virus makers as well as anti-virus makers, the best predictable future is only a virus environment that is “better controlled”. This article may be read in combination with other articles in this series for a better understanding.

Keywords: computer virus, anti-virus, anti-virus software, computer vulnerability, computer security, anti-virus design, inoculation, virus scanning, virus detection, signature scanning, integrity checking, heuristic scanning, emulation, network scanning, server scanning, scheduled scanning, data recovery, virus removal, virus database, on-access scanning,

Mishra, Umakant, Solving Virus Problems by System Administrators - A TRIZ Perspective (December, 28 2011). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1977496 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1977496

http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=1977496

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/79

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228295977_Solving_Virus_Problems_by_System_Administrators_-_A_TRIZ_Perspective

Solving Virus Problems by Computer Users- a TRIZ perspective

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

The knowledge on TRIZ helps us analyzing a problem. Analysis is an important step in problem solving because the same event may be causing different problems (or benefits) to different people under different conditions. Some solutions may be addressing a problem in a short term or narrow perspective while giving rise to other problems or disadvantages. A good solution should be ideal and holistic in approach and should lead to no other problems or negative consequences. 

When we analyze the problem of computer virus we find that different types of computer users face different types of problems and seek to different types of solutions. The problems faced by a novice user – who does not know how to install an anti-virus, may be different from the problems faced by an advanced user, who might have installed an anti-virus, but is facing the adverse effects of anti-virus or difficulties in updating the virus database.

Although there are different solutions to address the same problem, every solution is not ideal. Knowledge of TRIZ helps us finding an Ideal Solution – that means, while solving the problem of one group (say e.g., the end users) we must ensure that we are not creating problem for another group (say e.g., the system administrators) or vice-versa. This article may be read in combination with other articles in this series for a better understanding.

Keywords: Software Innovation, computer virus, anti-virus, anti-virus software, computer vulnerability, computer security, anti-virus design, anti-virus development, inoculation, virus scanning, virus detection, signature scanning, scheduled scanning, virus infection, virus prevention

Mishra, Umakant, Solving Virus Problems by Computer Users - A TRIZ Perspective (December 27, 2011). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1977308 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1977308

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/78

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255854359_Solving_Virus_Problems_by_Computer_Users_-_A_TRIZ_Perspective

Methods of virus detection and their limitations

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

An anti-virus program typically employs various strategies to detect and remove viruses.  The popular methods of detecting virus are signature scanning, heuristic scanning and integrity checking. However each of these methods has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Signature scanning (or searching of known virus patterns) is the most common method of virus detection. But it cannot detect viruses whose signatures are not available in the virus database. The other popular method is to use a heuristic algorithm to find viruses based on common behaviors. This method can be complex, but it has the ability to detect unknown or new viruses. Integrity checking is another generic method but it can only be applied for specific types of files which are not generally changed by user operations.

Keywords: Software Innovation, computer virus, anti-virus, anti-virus software, computer vulnerability, computer security, anti-virus design, anti-virus development, inoculation, virus scanning, virus detection, signature scanning, integrity checking, heuristic scanning, emulation, activity monitoring, generic scanning, behavior monitoring, resident scanning, virus database, on-access scanning,

Mishra, Umakant, Methods of Virus Detection and Their Limitations (August 25, 2010). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1916708 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1916708

http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=1916708

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/77

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256010898_Methods_of_Virus_Detection_and_Their_Limitations

An Introduction to Virus Scanners

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

The main functions of an anti-virus program are, (i) Virus prevention and file protection, (ii) Virus scanning and detection, (iii) Removing virus from infected files, and (iv) Recovering damaged files and objects.

An anti-virus program employs various methods to detect and remove viruses. The two popular methods of detecting viruses are signature scanning and behavior monitoring. However each of these methods has its strengths and weaknesses.

As the detection gets more sophisticated so are the virus programmers. The virus programmers also try to go one step beyond the anti-virus mechanism and create intelligent viruses which pose more and more difficult challenges before the anti-virus producers.

Keywords: Software Innovation, computer virus, anti-virus, anti-virus software, computer vulnerability, computer security, anti-virus design, anti-virus development, data recovery, inoculation, virus scanning, virus detection,

Umakant Mishra, An Introduction to Virus Scanners (August 25, 2010). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1916673 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1916673

http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=1916673

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/76

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256010897_An_Introduction_to_Virus_Scanners

An Introduction to Computer Viruses

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

The computer virus is a problem to computer users at all levels including students, home users, corporate users, system administrators, corporate managers and even the anti-virus manufacturers. The viruses are written by people with malefic intentions to trouble the innocent users.

There are many types of viruses are boot sector viruses, file viruses, worms, Trojan horses, macro viruses etc. Each of these has many different variants. The older viruses were transmitting through floppies. Some older viruses like boot sector viruses are very rare nowadays as nobody boots from floppies. The modern day viruses transmit more through networks and emails. Macro viruses are most prevalent in the current days.

The viruses generally try to exploit the loopholes of the operating system, application programs, windows sockets and even anti-virus programs. Some viruses are so dangerous that they can make the system completely unusable and irreparable.

Keywords: Software Innovation, Inventive Problem Solving, Software inventions, computer virus, anti-virus, boot sector virus, Trojan horse, computer worms, macro virus, network virus, vulnerability, computer security,

Mishra, Umakant, An Introduction to Computer Viruses (August 25, 2010). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1916631 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1916631

http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=1916631

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/75

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256010896_An_Introduction_to_Computer_Viruses

Inventions on Three Dimensional GUI- A TRIZ based analysis

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

The graphical user interface has become popular because of its simplicity and user friendliness. The user can do very complex operations through GUI by simple pointer movements. One of its major drawbacks is that it consumes active display area. Every icon, every window and every other GUI element occupies some amount of screen space. It is desirable to display more GUI features within the limited amount of display screen.

           

Adding another dimension to a graphical user interface can yield tremendous benefits such as improving aesthetics, data presentation, screen-space utilization and user friendliness. The user can easily locate the objects in a three-dimensional environment by using his spatial memory. Many people think that a three-dimensional GUI is the future of the current trend in the evolution of graphical user interface.

Keywords: TRIZ, Innovation, Invention, Inventive Problem Solving, Software Patents, Software inventions, Graphical User Interface, GUI design, 3D elements, 3D graphics, GUI elements, dynamic Interface, look and feel,  GUI efficiency, information presentation,

• Mishra, Umakant, Inventions on Three Dimensional GUI - A TRIZ Based Analysis (October 12, 2008). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1283145 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1283145
• http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/74
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255999736_Inventions_on_Three_Dimensional_GUI_-_A_TRIZ_Based_Analysis