A method and system are disclosed for generating and using a virus-free file
certificate.
The method, for use in a virus-free certificate authority (102), includes
the steps of: receiving (300) a virus-free certificate request for a file
from a server (101) or a client (100) system; determining (301)
whether the file is virus-free or not; if the file is declared virus-free by the
virus-free certificate authority (102): generating (303, 304) a virus-free
certificate (200) including a file signature (207) for certifying
that said file is declared virus-free by the virus-free certificate authority (102);
sending (306) back in response to the virus-free certificate request the
virus-free certificate (200). The method, for use in a server (101)
or client (100) system, includes the steps of: determining (400)
whether a virus-free certificate (200) is associated with a file; if a virus-free
certificate is associated with the file: authenticating (404) the virus-free
certificate (200), said virus-free certificate including a certificate signature
(206); authenticating (407) the file, said virus-free certificate
(200) including a file signature (207), said file signature certifying
that said file has been declared virus-free by a virus-free certificate authority (102).
