Abstract: Virus fingerprint data is automatically generated for use in detecting computer viruses and virus removal data for use in removing computer viruses from infected files. The fingerprint generation technique serves to identify the infected virus carrying portions of a computer file and then search within those portions for matching blocks of bytes in excess of a certain size that are consistently located at a predetermined position within the infected computer file such that they may be used to reliably detect that computer virus when it is infecting different host computer files. The removal data generation mechanism serves to search the infected computer file against a clean version of that computer file to identify matching blocks. Critical data missing within the infected computer file may be found within the virus carrying portions by the application of various decryption techniques. Cutting points to remove the virus carrying portions are identified.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for the automatic generation of virus fingerprint data for use in detecting computer viruses and virus removal data for use in removing computer viruses from infected files. The fingerprint generation technique serves to identify the infected virus carrying portions of a computer file and then search within those portions for matching blocks of bytes in excess of a certain size that are consistently located at a predetermined position within the infected computer file such that they may be used to reliably detect that computer virus when it is infecting different host computer files. The removal data generation mechanism serves to search the infected computer file against a clean version of that computer file to identify matching blocks. Critical data missing within the infected computer file may be found within the virus carrying portions by the application of various decryption techniques. Cutting points to remove the virus carrying portions are identified.