Patent ID: 8474021
Filing Date: 2013-06-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A security device for a computer having a host central processing unit (CPU), computer memory used by the host CPU to load programs in order to operate the computer including data indicative of a computer operating system, and a storage device for storing data to be used by the computer, the security device being arranged so as to be disposed during use in a data access channel between the host CPU and the storage device, and the security device being arranged such that during use all data passing between the host CPU and the security device passes along the data access channel, the security device comprising: a processor independent of the host CPU to control access during use to the storage device through said data access channel after loading of an operating system from the storage device; a device memory separate from the computer memory and not addressable by the host CPU, the device memory storing at least one access control computer program for operating the processor in a prescribed manner to control said access; an authentication program for authenticating a user of the computer; and the security device being arranged during use to intercept a boot sequence of the computer during operation of a BIOS of the computer by forwarding a custom boot loader to the host CPU instead of a requested boot loader, the custom boot loader being arranged to request the authentication program; and in response to the request for the authentication program, the security device being arranged to forward the authentication program through the data access channel to the host CPU for use by the host CPU during initialization of the computer prior to loading of an operating system of the computer from the storage device; and the security device being arranged such that access by the host CPU to the storage device is blocked and the operating system is not loaded from the storage device until the user is authenticated by the authentication program.