Abstract: On a mobile communications device, visiting a link from a messaging application or web browser may result in an undesired action, such as visiting a phishing site, downloading malware, causing unwanted charges, using too much battery, or the device being exploited. In an implementation, a mobile application intercepts a request including an identifier associated with an action to be performed by another application on the device and evaluates the identifier to determine when the request should be permitted, blocked, or conditionally permitted. The client may use local data or make a request to a server to evaluate the identifier. In an implementation, server communications are optimized to minimize latency by caching evaluation results on the device, proactively priming the device's DNS cache, optimizing when DNS lookups are performed, and adapting evaluation policy based on factors such as the source of the request, and the currently active network connection.

Abstract: To prevent malware, spyware and other undesirable applications from affecting mobile communication devices (e.g., smartphones, netbooks, and tablets), a device uses a server to assist in identifying and removing undesirable applications. When scanning an application, a device transmits information about the application to a server for analysis. The server receives the information, produces a categorization assessment and can provide a categorization re-assessment, and transmits the assessment to the device. By performing analysis on a server, a device can reduce its battery and performance cost of protecting against undesirable applications. The server transmits notifications to devices that have installed applications that are discovered to be undesirable. The server receives data about applications from many devices, using the combined data to minimize false positives and provide comprehensive protection against known and unknown threats.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing malware, spyware and other undesirable applications from affecting mobile communication devices uses a server to assist in identifying and removing undesirable applications. When scanning an application, a device transmits information about the application to a server for analysis. The server receives the information, produces a characterization assessment and can also provide a characterization re-assessment for the application, or data object, and transmits the assessment to the device. By performing analysis on a server, the invention allows a device to reduce the battery and performance cost of protecting against undesirable applications. The servers transmit notifications to devices that have installed applications that are discovered to be undesirable. The server can accumulate this data and then perform a characterization re-assessment of a data object it has previously assessed to provide an assessment based upon one of trust, distribution and ratings information.

Abstract: A system and method identifies mobile applications that can have an adverse effect on a mobile device or mobile network. In an implementation, a server monitors behavioral data relating to a mobile application and applies a model to determine if the application has an adverse effect or has the potential to cause an adverse effect on a mobile device or a network the mobile device may connect to. A mobile device may monitor behavioral data, apply a model to the data, and transmit a disposition to the server. The server may aggregate behavioral data or disposition information from multiple devices. The server may transmit or make available the disposition information to a subscriber through a web interface, API, email, or other mechanism. After identifying that an application may have an adverse effect, the server may enact corrective actions, such as generating device or network configuration data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for efficiently gathering information about applications for mobile communication devices (e.g., smartphones, netbooks, and tablets). This disclosure is also directed to a server producing assessments for applications by analyzing data from multiple sources. To gather information, a device sends information about an application to a server, which stores some or all of the information and may request additional information, if necessary. The server collects information from many devices, including devices that have varied configurations and different operating systems, by only collecting the appropriate information from each device. The server gathers the appropriate data to perform in-depth, granular mobile application analysis while minimizing overhead on devices, wireless networks, and the server. The server may collect portions of data from multiple devices, combining them on the server to produce an assessment for an application.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a system and method for providing advisement about applications on mobile communication devices such as smartphones, netbooks, and tablets. A server gathers data about mobile applications, analyzes the applications, and produces an assessment that may advise users on a variety of factors, including security, privacy, battery impact, performance impact, and network usage. The disclosure helps users understand the impact of applications to improve the experience in using their mobile device. The disclosure also enables a server to feed information about applications to other protection systems such as application policy systems and network infrastructure. The disclosure also enables advisement about applications to be presented in a variety of forms, such as through a mobile application, as part of a web application, or integrated into other services via an API.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a system and method for preventing malware, spyware and other undesirable applications from affecting mobile communication devices (e.g., smartphones, netbooks, and tablets). A mobile communication device uses a server to assist in identifying and removing undesirable applications. When scanning an application, a device transmits information about the application to a server for analysis. The server receives the information, produces an assessment for the application, and transmits the assessment to the device. By performing analysis on a server, the invention allows a device to reduce the battery and performance cost of protecting against undesirable applications. The servers transmits notifications to devices that have installed applications that are discovered to be undesirable. The server receives data about applications from many devices, using the combined data to minimize false positives and provide comprehensive protection against known and unknown threats.