Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Multiple computer communication using cryptography – Protection at a particular protocol layer
Patent
1996-07-10
2000-01-04
Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Multiple computer communication using cryptography
Protection at a particular protocol layer
711164, G06F 1100, H04L 900
Patent
active
060121459
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a security system intended for the protection of information recorded on miniature portable hard disk drives for use typically in small portable computers.
The advent of the PCMCIA interface and accompanying plug-compatible memory products means that truly portable mass storage devices will soon become commonplace and easily interchangeable between computer systems and similar devices.
The need for protection of confidential data files is of prime importance in these small disk drives as they can easily be lost or stolen and thus become available to unauthorised users. A method of protection and the protection apparatus must exist in the drive itself to ensure that it is secure wherever it is plugged in and run.
Current methods of file protection such as those included within application software or those using separate utility software packages are not particularly suited to portable devices as they can either be easily decoded by someone skilled in the art or form part of the host system memory.
A first object of the present invention is to provide a method of securing the files on a hard disk drive by means of user password protection.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a system and method of securing the files on a hard disk drive for "read only" operation.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a method of securing the files on a hard disk drive such that "no access" is permitted.
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a method of providing a Master Key password for authorised secondary access in the event that the user password is lost.
A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a method of protecting the password from discovery by enciphering software programs.
A sixth object of the invention is to provide a system and apparatus to enable the method to be implemented.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a memory and comparison means with a special utility program to enable the owner or user of a hard disk drive to protect the data files by setting an access password.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a security system for a portable hard disk drive, said system comprising: access to information on the disk; memory means for comparing the stored password with the user-entered password and for permitting access to information on the disk if the passwords match and preventing access when there is no match.
The password is conveniently stored in flash or other solid state non-volatile memory on the disk drive electronics board and it controls unauthorised access of the drive depending on the level of protection selected. Code used to interact with an utility program which is run on a commuter in which the disk drive is being used in order to provide a reasonably user-friendly interface for entry and/or amendment of passwords, setting of protection mode etc, is also conveniently stored in flash or other solid state memory (which may be the same device as that in which the password is stored), on the disk drive electronics board, so that the main part of the security system is largely contained in the portable disk drive itself. In one possible form of the invention though the utility software may be formed and arranged to read in a computer system identification number (the BIOS Serial No) and use this as a "user input" password to be compared against a stored password so that the drive is "protected" for automatic access only (possibly subject to use of a master password) from a particular computer.
The user may advantageously have the option of setting two or more different levels of security required, such as "no protection", "read only" or "full protection".
In "no protection" mode the drive password defaults to a free access condition. In "read only" mode, files can be read but not altered and new files may not be added to the drive. In "no access" mode the drive will not allow any access.
A Master Password is desirably provided which is stored in
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Electronics International--vol. 55, No. 3, Feb. 1982, New York, US, pp. 121-125.
Maxtor Corporation--product literature--copyright 1993--"PCMCIA Hard Disk Drive Security".
Mathers Stewart
Stewart Alec Donald
Baderman Scott T.
Beausoliel, Jr. Robert W.
Calluna Technology Limited
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