Abstract: Requests to send data from a first host within a network of hosts are monitored against a record of destination hosts that have been sent data in accordance with a predetermined policy. Destination host identities (not the record) are stored in a buffer. The buffer size is monitored to determine whether requests from the first host are pursuant to viral activity therein.

Abstract: Requests to send data from a first host within a network of hosts are monitored against a record of destination hosts that have been sent data in accordance with a predetermined policy. Destination host identities (not the record) are stored in a buffer. The buffer size is monitored to determine whether requests from the first host are pursuant to viral activity therein.

Abstract: A network security system is provided comprising a plurality of network bubbles wherein each bubble includes bubble members configured to transmit and receive data. Bubbles have network security policies that may be enforced by a plurality of network control point devices. The system further includes a private virtual backbone configured to interconnect the plurality of network control points connected to known bubbles. The privacy of the private virtual backbone is maintained by an inter-bubble device and/or set of two network control points. The inter-bubble device and set of control points enforce the network security policies of any connected bubble and relay data packets between address spaces. The private virtual backbone may operate in private address space. The system also includes an instance-specific virtual backbone that interconnects only bubble partitions from the same network bubble, thus simplifying the enforcement of a network security policy.