Abstract: A method includes randomly mutating a virus definition file on a first host computer system to create a first mutated virus definition file, and randomly mutating the virus definition file on a second host computer system to create a second mutated virus definition file, the second mutated virus definition file being different than the first mutated virus definition file. Because of the differences between the first and second mutated virus definition files, a new unknown virus variant undetected on the first host computer system is detected and collected on the second host computer system thus preventing the unknown virus variant from becoming widespread.

Abstract: A security system for providing gated access for a third party to a secure entity or service and a method for operating the same is disclosed. The security system comprises a portable biometric device and a receiving module connected over a transmission channel. Biometric data in dependence upon a biometric characteristic such as a fingerprint of an authorized person is stored in memory of the portable biometric device. Biometric information of the person is captured, encoded and biometric data in dependence thereupon is provided to a processor. Using the processor the captured biometric data is then compared with the stored biometric data to produce a comparison result. If the comparison result is indicative of a match the first person is enabled to initiate provision of a gating signal for enabling signals provided by the third party to access the secure entity or service. The gating signal is received at a port of the secure entity or service.

Abstract: In an RF receiver having a phase-locked loop demodulator and FLL tuning in its RF converter, the frequency of the VCO output signal in the phase-locked loop (PLL) demodulator is controlled indirectly by the FLL in the RF converter in response to a measurement of the VCO output signal in the phase-locked loop demodulator and comparison of such measured signal to a predetermined intermediated frequency. A microcomputer performs a refined FLL tuning algorithm to tune a selected RF carrier input signal and audio subcarrier input signals. The algorithm provides a means of assuring that the PLL demodulator is responding to an input signal derived from a carrier signal of a selected input frequency without having to use hardware to detect the presence of a carrier signal.