Abstract: Providing a user with assurance that a networked computer is secure, typically before completion of the log-in operation. This can be accomplished by extending the local log-in process to perform a host assessment of the workstation prior to requesting the user's credentials. If the assessment finds a vulnerability, the log-in process can inform the user that the machine is or may be compromised, or repair the vulnerability, prior to completion of the log-in operation. By performing vulnerability assessment at the level of the workstation, a network server is able to determine whether the workstation is a “trusted” platform from which to accept authentication requests. If the vulnerability assessment shows that the workstation is compromised, or if the possibility of remote compromise is high, the network server can elect to fail the authentication on the grounds that the workstation cannot be trusted.

Abstract: Providing a user with assurance that a networked computer is secure, typically before completion of the log-in operation. This can be accomplished by extending the local log-in process to perform a host assessment of the workstation prior to requesting the user's credentials. If the assessment finds a vulnerability, the log-in process can inform the user that the machine is or may be compromised, or repair the vulnerability, prior to completion of the log-in operation. By performing vulnerability assessment at the level of the workstation, a network server is able to determine whether the workstation is a “trusted” platform from which to accept authentication requests. If the vulnerability assessment shows that the workstation is compromised, or if the possibility of remote compromise is high, the network server can elect to fail the authentication on the grounds that the workstation cannot be trusted.

Abstract: A method and system identifies, fixes, and updates security vulnerabilities in a host computer or host computers. The present invention can communicate between a scanner with plug-in capability, an operating system, and an express update package. The architectural set-up can allow exploits within the scanner and exploits in the express update package to function with no knowledge of each other. The user also needs no knowledge of whether the exploits are within the scanner or the express update package. Mutual authentication procedures can enable the scanner to load only legitimate express update packages, and can provide that express update packages can only be loaded into legitimate scanners.