Patent attributes
Early detection of computer viruses is provided by collecting information about suspicious messages and generating virus outbreak information. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving the virus outbreak information that has been determined by receiving message information for messages that have characteristics associated with computer viruses, wherein the messages were determined by a virus-check component as not comprising a virus, and mapping the message information received in a specified time period to the virus outbreak information; and when the virus outbreak information indicates initiation of a virus attack, performing a message flow control action for additional messages that have the same characteristics associated with computer viruses as the first messages. As a result, a messaging gateway can suspend delivery of messages early in a virus outbreak, providing sufficient time for updating an anti-virus checker that can strip virus code from the messages.
