Inventors:
James R. Kozloski - New Fairfield CT, US
Brian M. O'Connell - Cary NC, US
Clifford A. Pickover - Yorktown Heights NY, US
Keith R. Walker - Austin TX, US
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY
International Classification:
H04L 9/32
H04L 9/00
G06F 7/04
US Classification:
726 4, 726 5, 726 6, 726 7, 726 27, 726 28, 713182, 713183, 713184, 713185
Abstract:
A protection mechanism(s) for a virtual universe account maintains integrity of the virtual universe account as well as the virtual universe. An avatar associated with a virtual universe account may be misappropriated and/or used inappropriately by a non-comporting user against the wishes or without the knowledge of the virtual universe account owner. A non-comporting user (i. e. , a user not authorized to use the virtual universe account, an authorized user who misuses a virtual universe account, etc. ) can use an avatar to perform potentially damaging and/or damaging activities in the virtual universe (e. g. , destroy property, impact reputation associated with the virtual universe account, reduce value of the virtual universe account, etc. ) Embodiments of the inventive subject matter detect when a user misappropriates and/or misuses a virtual universe account (i. e. , detects a non-comporting user), and attempts to restore state of the virtual universe prior to the misuse and/or misappropriation.