Internet Worm and Virus Protection in Dynamically Reconfigurable Hardware

The security of the Internet can be improved using Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs). A platform has been implemented that actively scans and filters Internet traffic for Internet worms and viruses at multi-Gigabit/second rates using the Field-programmable Port Extender (FPX). Modular components implemented with Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) logic on the FPX process packet headers and scan for signatures of malicious software (malware) carried in packet payloads. FPGA logic is used to implement circuits that track the state of Internet flows and search for regular expressions and fixed-strings that appear in the content of packets. The FPX contains logic that allows modules to be dynamically reconfigured to scan for new signatures. Network-wide protection is achieved by the deployment of multiple systems throughout the Internet.