Security System And Method For Computer Operating Systems

• Main Authors: ALFRED HEARN MICHAEL, POWERS RUSSELL E, KABZINSKI RICHARD
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2008
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRICITY; PHYSICS; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION

A security system for a computer operating system comprising a processor ( 37 ) that is independent of the host CPU ( 13 ) for controlling access between the host CPU ( 13 ) and a security partition formed in the storage device ( 21 ) for storing the operating system. A program memory ( 41 ) that is independent of the computer memory and the storage device ( 21 ) unalterably stores and provides computer programs for operating the processor ( 37 ) in a manner so as to control access to the security partition in the storage device ( 21 ). All data access by the host CPU (13) to the data storage device ( 21 ) is blocked before initialisation of the security system and is intercepted immediately after the initialisation under the control of the processor ( 37 ). The processor ( 37 ) effects independent control of the host CPU ( 13 ) and configuration of the computer ( 11 ) to prevent unauthorised access to the security partition on the storage device ( 21 ) during the interception phase. All users of the computer ( 11 ) are authenticated with a prescribed profile of access to the operating system files in the security partition on the storage device ( 21 ) and data access to the storage device remains blocked until a user of the computer ( 11 ) is correctly authenticated.