Patent ID: 9665743
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: G06F

Claim:
1. A method for converting personal information on a storage device installed in a target computer from an accessible state to a inaccessible state comprising: assigning a unique ID to the target computer storing files in an accessible state; placing a first set of executable instructions on a control computer, the control computer connected to a network and adapted to access a database; registering the unique ID of the target computer in the database; placing a second set of executable instructions on the target computer, the target computer connectable to the network; the second set of executable instructions automatically executing whenever the target computer boots; the second set of executable instructions transmitting the unique ID of the target computer over the network to the control computer and requesting status of the target computer; the first set of executable instructions upon receiving the unique ID of the target computer, accessing the database to determine the status of the target computer; the first set of executable instructions returning the status to the target computer over the network; the second set of executable instructions receiving the status and either turning control over to the operating system or firmware of the target computer if the status is safe leaving the personal data in the accessible state, or initiating a wipe operation on the target computer if the status is unsafe converting the personal data to an inaccessible state; if the status is unsafe, the second set of executable instructions selectively wiping addressed locations belonging to specific files from the storage device by sending write commands to the storage device, the write commands referencing wipe data patterns, the wipe operation proceeding on a file-by-file basis first wiping addressed locations of data files, then wiping addressed locations of free space, and finally wiping the entire storage device.