US Patent 8042178 Alert message control of security mechanisms in data processing systems

An authenticated secure network communication link is established between an alert message generating computer 2 and a destination data processing system 6. The alert message sent specifies a risk threat level and a suggested countermeasure amongst other data. The destination computer 6 automatically responds to the alert message as controlled by its local response configuration parameters to trigger security actions of one or more security mechanisms, such as malware scanners, firewall scanners, security policy managers and the like.