Abstract: A network security policy may be implemented at network switches as a set of active packet disposition directives. In a dynamically programmable network, the network switches can be dynamically reprogrammed with new packet disposition directives. A security mediation service permits such dynamic reprogramming as long as the new directives are consistent with the then-current network security policy. The security mediation service evaluates candidate packet disposition directives for conflicts with the currently active security policy, before instantiating the candidate packet disposition directives at the network switches.

Abstract: A network security policy may be implemented at network switches as a set of active packet disposition directives. In a dynamically programmable network, the network switches can be dynamically reprogrammed with new packet disposition directives. A security mediation service permits such dynamic reprogramming as long as the new directives are consistent with the then-current network security policy. The security mediation service evaluates candidate packet disposition directives for conflicts with the currently active security policy, before instantiating the candidate packet disposition directives at the network switches.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating and enforcing a data flow policy at a mobile computing device includes a data flow policy engine to evaluate data access requests made by security-wrapped software applications running on the mobile device and prevent the security-wrapped software applications from violating the data flow policy. The data flow policy defines a number of security labels that are associated with data objects. A software application process may be associated with a security label if the process accesses data having the security label or the process is in communication with another process that has accessed data having the security label.

Abstract: A network security policy may be implemented at network switches as a set of active packet disposition directives. In a dynamically programmable network, the network switches can be dynamically reprogrammed with packet disposition directives. A security actuator receives flow policy directives from a number of network applications. The flow policy directives express higher-level network security policy goals, including blocking and/or redirecting network traffic. The security actuator converts a flow policy directive into one or more packet disposition directives. The packet disposition directives may include trigger rules to cause network communications to be monitored for matching trigger packets. An automated mechanism initiated by the security actuator may cause trigger packets to be forwarded to the security actuator for analysis. The security actuator may generate packet disposition directives in response to receiving the trigger packets.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for detecting malware infection. One embodiment of a method for detecting a malware infection at a local host in a network, includes monitoring communications between the local host and one or more entities external to the network, generating a dialog warning if the communications include a transaction indicative of a malware infection, declaring a malware infection if, within a predefined period of time, the dialog warnings includes at least one dialog warning indicating a transaction initiated at the local host and at least one dialog warning indicating an additional transaction indicative of a malware infection, and outputting an infection profile for the local host.

Abstract: A network security policy may be implemented at network switches as a set of active packet disposition directives. In a dynamically programmable network, the network switches can be dynamically reprogrammed with new packet disposition directives. A security mediation service permits such dynamic reprogramming as long as the new directives are consistent with the then-current network security policy. The security mediation service evaluates candidate packet disposition directives for conflicts with the currently active security policy, before instantiating the candidate packet disposition directives at the network switches.

Abstract: Network management technology as disclosed herein conducts conversational natural language dialog with a user to facilitate the user's analysis of network activity and the implementation of network security measures and other actions in furtherance of network operations, management, or security.

Abstract: Network management technology as disclosed herein performs an impact analysis of actual or hypothetical network commands, and presents the impact analysis results to facilitate the user's understanding of the predicted consequences of the actual or hypothetical commands on network operations, management, or security.

Abstract: Network management technology as disclosed herein generates and dynamically updates an intuitive, interactive visualization of a computer network in live operation. The network management technology interprets human user interactions, such as gestures, conversational natural language dialog, and combinations of gestures and natural language dialog, as network directives. The technology can implement the network directives to, for example, facilitate analysis of network activity or to respond to network security events.

Abstract: Network security management technology as disclosed herein generates and dynamically updates an intuitive, interactive visualization of a computer network in live operation. The network security management technology interprets human user interactions, such as gestures, as network directives. The network directives may be implemented by the network in response to security events.

Abstract: Network security management technology as disclosed herein generates and dynamically updates an intuitive, interactive visualization of a computer network in live operation. The network security management technology interprets human user interactions, such as gestures, as network directives, and updates the interactive visualization in response to the network directives.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating and enforcing a data flow policy at a mobile computing device includes a data flow policy engine to evaluate data access requests made by security-wrapped software applications running on the mobile device and prevent the security-wrapped software applications from violating the data flow policy. The data flow policy defines a number of security labels that are associated with data objects. A software application process may be associated with a security label if the process accesses data having the security label or the process is in communication with another process that has accessed data having the security label.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating and enforcing a data flow policy at a mobile computing device includes a data flow policy engine to evaluate data access requests made by security-wrapped software applications running on the mobile device and prevent the security-wrapped software applications from violating the data flow policy. The data flow policy defines a number of security labels that are associated with data objects. A software application process may be associated with a security label if the process accesses data having the security label or the process is in communication with another process that has accessed data having the security label.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating and enforcing a data flow policy at a mobile computing device includes a data flow policy engine to evaluate data access requests made by security-wrapped software applications running on the mobile device and prevent the security-wrapped software applications from violating the data flow policy. The data flow policy defines a number of security labels that are associated with data objects. A software application process may be associated with a security label if the process accesses data having the security label or the process is in communication with another process that has accessed data having the security label.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating and enforcing a data flow policy at a mobile computing device includes a data flow policy engine to evaluate data access requests made by security-wrapped software applications running on the mobile device and prevent the security-wrapped software applications from violating the data flow policy. The data flow policy defines a number of security labels that are associated with data objects. A software application process may be associated with a security label if the process accesses data having the security label or the process is in communication with another process that has accessed data having the security label.

Abstract: A network security policy may be implemented at network switches as a set of active packet disposition directives. In a dynamically programmable network, the network switches can be dynamically reprogrammed with new packet disposition directives. An event auditor passively monitors network traffic and provides network activity data indicative of network flows to a network privilege manager. The network privilege manager determines a current network context based on the network activity data. In response to the current network context, the network privilege manager selects a security policy and generates one or more flow policy directives in accordance with the selected policy.

Abstract: A network security policy may be implemented at network switches as a set of active packet disposition directives. In a dynamically programmable network, the network switches can be dynamically reprogrammed with packet disposition directives. A security actuator receives flow policy directives from a number of network applications. The flow policy directives express higher-level network security policy goals, including blocking and/or redirecting network traffic. The security actuator converts a flow policy directive into one or more packet disposition directives. The packet disposition directives may include trigger rules to cause network communications to be monitored for matching trigger packets. An automated mechanism initiated by the security actuator may cause trigger packets to be forwarded to the security actuator for analysis. The security actuator may generate packet disposition directives in response to receiving the trigger packets.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating and enforcing a data flow policy at a mobile computing device includes a data flow policy engine to evaluate data access requests made by security-wrapped software applications running on the mobile device and prevent the security-wrapped software applications from violating the data flow policy. The data flow policy defines a number of security labels that are associated with data objects. A software application process may be associated with a security label if the process accesses data having the security label or the process is in communication with another process that has accessed data having the security label.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for combating malicious code. In one embodiment, a method for combating malicious code in a network includes implementing a leap-ahead technique to defend against the malicious code reaching a full saturation potential in the network, by sending alert messages to a group of peers, and reselecting the membership of that group from time to time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for combating malicious code. In one embodiment, a method for combating malicious code in a network includes implementing a resource-limiting technique to slow a propagation of the malicious code and implementing a leap-ahead technique in parallel with the resource-limiting technique to defend against the malicious code reaching a full saturation potential in the network.