Patents by Inventor Ross McKerchar

Ross McKerchar has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11853425
    Abstract: Malware uses various techniques to detect a sandbox environment so that malicious code can avoid execution in closely monitored contexts that might otherwise trigger detection and remediation. A security system is dynamically updated to exploit these anti-sandbox techniques, e.g., by causing endpoints to mimic sandbox environments in a manner that discourages malware execution on the endpoint, and by updating sandboxes to alter or hide sandbox detection triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Sophos Limited
    Inventors: Ross McKerchar, Erik Jan Loman, Simon Neil Reed, Kenneth D. Ray, Andrew J. Thomas, Karl Ackerman
  • Patent number: 11741222
    Abstract: Attachments or other documents can be transmitted to a sandbox environment where they can be concurrently opened for remote preview from an endpoint and scanned for possible malware. A gateway or other intermediate network element may enforce this process by replacing attachments, for example, in incoming electronic mail communications, with links to a document preview hosted in the sandbox environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Sophos Limited
    Inventors: Ross McKerchar, John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Andrew J. Thomas, Russell Humphries, Kenneth D. Ray, Daniel Salvatore Schiappa
  • Publication number: 20220286481
    Abstract: A threat management facility detects a device on an enterprise network and determines whether the device is one of a set of managed devices for the enterprise network. When the device is not one of the set of managed devices, the threat management facility may selectively direct the device to a portal that provides support to the user of the device while the device awaits admission to the enterprise network. As the user interacts with the portal, the portal may manage admission of unrecognized devices onto the enterprise network while making efficient use of network administrator resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Ross McKerchar, Moritz Daniel Grimm, Jan Karl Heinrich Weber, Shail R. Talati, Kenneth D. Ray, Andrew J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11310275
    Abstract: A threat management facility detects a device on an enterprise network and determines whether the device is one of a set of managed devices for the enterprise network. When the device is not one of the set of managed devices, the threat management facility may selectively direct the device to a portal that provides support to the user of the device while the device awaits admission to the enterprise network. As the user interacts with the portal, the portal may manage admission of unrecognized devices onto the enterprise network while making efficient use of network administrator resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Sophos Limited
    Inventors: John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Ross McKerchar, Moritz Daniel Grimm, Jan Karl Heinrich Weber, Shail R. Talati, Kenneth D. Ray, Andrew J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20220114257
    Abstract: Malware uses various techniques to detect a sandbox environment so that malicious code can avoid execution in closely monitored contexts that might otherwise trigger detection and remediation. A security system is dynamically updated to exploit these anti-sandbox techniques, e.g., by causing endpoints to mimic sandbox environments in a manner that discourages malware execution on the endpoint, and by updating sandboxes to alter or hide sandbox detection triggers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Ross McKerchar, Erik Jan Loman, Simon Neil Reed, Kenneth D. Ray, Andrew J. Thomas, Karl Ackerman
  • Patent number: 11134056
    Abstract: A threat management facility detects a device on an enterprise network and determines whether the device is one of a set of managed devices for the enterprise network. When the device is not one of the set of managed devices, the device may be directed to a portal that manages admission of unrecognized devices onto the enterprise network. Based on a response of the unrecognized device to the portal (e.g., if the unrecognized device does not respond to the portal), the device may be listed on an unclaimed device page published by the portal and accessible to authorized users of the enterprise network. An authorized user may claim the unrecognized device from the unclaimed device page and, in the process, may provide additional information regarding the unrecognized device. Once claimed, the previously unrecognized device may be permitted to communicate over the enterprise network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Sophos Limited
    Inventors: John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Ross McKerchar, Moritz Daniel Grimm, Jan Karl Heinrich Weber, Shail R. Talati, Kenneth D. Ray, Andrew J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11095609
    Abstract: A threat management facility detects a device on an enterprise network and determines whether the device is one of a set of managed devices for the enterprise network. When the device is not one of the set of managed devices, the device may be directed to a portal that manages admission of unrecognized devices onto the enterprise network. Based on a response of the unrecognized device to the portal (e.g., if the unrecognized device does not respond to the portal), the device may be listed on an unclaimed device page published by the portal and accessible to authorized users of the enterprise network. An authorized user may claim the unrecognized device from the unclaimed device page and, in the process, may provide additional information regarding the unrecognized device. Once claimed, the previously unrecognized device may be permitted to communicate over the enterprise network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Sophos Limited
    Inventors: John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Ross McKerchar, Moritz Daniel Grimm, Jan Karl Heinrich Weber, Shail R. Talati, Kenneth D. Ray, Andrew J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11019056
    Abstract: A threat management facility detects a device on an enterprise network and determines whether the device is one of a set of managed devices for the enterprise network. When the device is not one of the set of managed devices, the threat management facility may determine whether the device is manageable. When the device is unrecognized and unmanageable, a portal may provide support to a user of the device by listing the device on an unclaimed device page published by the portal and accessible to authorized users of the enterprise network. An authorized user may claim the unrecognized device from the unclaimed device page and, in the process, may provide additional information regarding the unrecognized device. Once claimed, the previously unrecognized device may be permitted to communicate over the enterprise network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Sophos Limited
    Inventors: John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Ross McKerchar, Moritz Daniel Grimm, Jan Karl Heinrich Weber, Shail R. Talati, Kenneth D. Ray, Andrew J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10986092
    Abstract: A threat management facility detects a device on an enterprise network and determines whether the device is one of a set of managed devices for the enterprise network. When the device is not one of the set of managed devices, the threat management facility may determine whether the device is manageable. When the device is unrecognized and unmanageable, a portal may provide support to a user of the device by listing the device on an unclaimed device page published by the portal and accessible to authorized users of the enterprise network. An authorized user may claim the unrecognized device from the unclaimed device page and, in the process, may provide additional information regarding the unrecognized device. Once claimed, the previously unrecognized device may be permitted to communicate over the enterprise network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Sophos Limited
    Inventors: John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Ross McKerchar, Moritz Daniel Grimm, Jan Karl Heinrich Weber, Shail R. Talati, Kenneth D. Ray, Andrew J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210097171
    Abstract: Attachments or other documents can be transmitted to a sandbox environment where they can be concurrently opened for remote preview from an endpoint and scanned for possible malware. A gateway or other intermediate network element may enforce this process by replacing attachments, for example, in incoming electronic mail communications, with links to a document preview hosted in the sandbox environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Ross McKerchar, John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Andrew J. Thomas, Russell Humphries, Kenneth D. Ray, Daniel Salvatore Schiappa
  • Patent number: 10896254
    Abstract: Attachments or other documents can be transmitted to a sandbox environment where they can be concurrently opened for remote preview from an endpoint and scanned for possible malware. A gateway or other intermediate network element may enforce this process by replacing attachments, for example, in incoming electronic mail communications, with links to a document preview hosted in the sandbox environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Sophos Limited
    Inventors: Ross McKerchar, John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Andrew J. Thomas, Russell Humphries, Kenneth D. Ray, Daniel Salvatore Schiappa
  • Publication number: 20190238591
    Abstract: A threat management facility detects a device on an enterprise network and determines whether the device is one of a set of managed devices for the enterprise network. When the device is not one of the set of managed devices, the threat management facility may selectively direct the device to a portal that provides support to the user of the device while the device awaits admission to the enterprise network. As the user interacts with the portal, the portal may manage admission of unrecognized devices onto the enterprise network while making efficient use of network administrator resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Ross McKerchar, Moritz Daniel Grimm, Jan Karl Heinrich Weber, Shail R. Talati, Kenneth D. Ray, Andrew J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20190238538
    Abstract: A threat management facility detects a device on an enterprise network and determines whether the device is one of a set of managed devices for the enterprise network. When the device is not one of the set of managed devices, the threat management facility may determine whether the device is manageable. When the device is unrecognized and unmanageable, a portal may provide support to a user of the device by listing the device on an unclaimed device page published by the portal and accessible to authorized users of the enterprise network. An authorized user may claim the unrecognized device from the unclaimed device page and, in the process, may provide additional information regarding the unrecognized device. Once claimed, the previously unrecognized device may be permitted to communicate over the enterprise network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Ross McKerchar, Moritz Daniel Grimm, Jan Karl Heinrich Weber, Shail R. Talati, Kenneth D. Ray, Andrew J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20190238506
    Abstract: A threat management facility detects a device on an enterprise network and determines whether the device is one of a set of managed devices for the enterprise network. When the device is not one of the set of managed devices, the device may be directed to a portal that manages admission of unrecognized devices onto the enterprise network. Based on a response of the unrecognized device to the portal (e.g., if the unrecognized device does not respond to the portal), the device may be listed on an unclaimed device page published by the portal and accessible to authorized users of the enterprise network. An authorized user may claim the unrecognized device from the unclaimed device page and, in the process, may provide additional information regarding the unrecognized device. Once claimed, the previously unrecognized device may be permitted to communicate over the enterprise network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Ross McKerchar, Moritz Daniel Grimm, Jan Karl Heinrich Weber, Shail R. Talati, Kenneth D. Ray, Andrew J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20190213325
    Abstract: Attachments or other documents can be transmitted to a sandbox environment where they can be concurrently opened for remote preview from an endpoint and scanned for possible malware. A gateway or other intermediate network element may enforce this process by replacing attachments, e.g., in incoming electronic mail communications, with links to a document preview hosted in the sandbox environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Ross McKerchar, John Edward Tyrone Shaw, Andrew J. Thomas, Russell Humphries, Kenneth D. Ray, Daniel Salvatore Schiappa