http://peertopatent.org/patent/20080301712/activity A method and apparatus for verifying loadable objects. A request is received from an application to load a first loadable object into memory. A first signature value is calculated for the first loadable object. The first loadable object is loaded into memory if the first signature value matches one of a plurality of signature values, each of the plurality of signature values being associated with a distinct loadable object. en-us Verification of loadable objects Also the MS VC++ linker will embed a checksum in a .exe so the Windows OS will detect if the exe is valid. From MSDN: The /RELEASE option sets the Checksum in the header of an .exe file. The operating system requires the Checksum for device drivers. Set the Checksum for release versions of your device drivers to ensure compatibility with future operating systems. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/h8ksa72a(VS.71).aspx Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:38:28 -0700 http://peertopatent.org/patent/20080301712/discussion Verification of loadable objects This looks to be a good piece of prior art for this patent application. Is it possible to establish the date for this prior art? I do see this at that URL: This page is specific to Microsoft Visual Studio 2003/.NET Framework 1.1 For the Patent Office to use this as prior art, please enter it in the Prior Art section via peertopatent.org. The Discussion section is not passed onto the Patent Office. Wed, 20 May 2009 13:14:23 -0700 http://peertopatent.org/patent/20080301712/discussion Verification of loadable objects Linkers have been placing checksums in executables for a very long time. There certainly has been one in the DOS linkers since the beginning. See http://bbc.nvg.org/doc/Master%20512%20Technical%20Guide/m512tech07.htm (among other places) for a description of the function of the linker checksum in the EXE file header. Sat, 30 May 2009 07:59:31 -0700 http://peertopatent.org/patent/20080301712/discussion Verification of loadable objects Verifying loadable objects is quite common in byte code virtual machines systems such as the Java VM. See patent 6851108. Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:31:58 -0700 http://peertopatent.org/patent/20080301712/discussion