Abstract: Methods for classifying computer objects as malware and the associated apparatus are disclosed. An exemplary method includes, at a base computer, receiving data about a computer object from each of plural remote computers on which the object or similar objects are stored or processed wherein the base computer comprises plural threat servers arranged to receive the data from the plural remote computers and apply rules or heuristics against the data in real time to determine whether or not the object is malware and to communicate the determination to the remote computers. The base computer includes at least one central server in communication with the threat servers and arranged to receive the data about objects from the threat servers to maintain a master database of data received about objects from all threat servers.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of classifying a computer object as malware includes receiving at a base computer data about a computer object from each of plural remote computers on which the object or similar objects are stored. The data about the computer object received from the plural computers is compared in the base computer. The computer object is classified as malware on the basis of said comparison. In one embodiment, the data about the computer object includes one or more of: executable instructions contained within or constituted by the object; the size of the object; the name of the object; the logical storage location or path of the object on the respective remote computers; the vendor of the object; the software product and version associated with the object; and, events initiated by or involving the object when the object is created, configured or runs on the respective remote computers.