Patent ID: 7984285

Claim:
An information handling system (IHS) comprising: a processor; a port and a port securing module coupled to the processor, wherein the port securing module comprises: a power gate that is coupled in series to a first power source and to the port; a resistor coupled in parallel to the power gate; and an operational amplifier comprising an inverting input and a non-inverting input that couple the operational amplifier in parallel to each of the power gate and the resistor, the operational amplifier also comprising an output that is operable to indicate whether a load is coupled to the port and, if a load is coupled to the port, to supply a voltage to activate the power gate such that power is supplied to the port; and a memory coupled to the processor, the port, and the port securing module, wherein the memory comprises computer-readable instructions that are processable by the processor, and wherein one of the computer-readable instructions, the port securing module, and the combination of the computer-readable instructions and port securing modules is operable to: determine that security for the port is enabled upon the booting of the IHS; detect whether a device is coupled to the port and disable the port if a device is not coupled to the port; determine, upon detecting that a device is coupled to the port, whether the device is an authorized device and either reboot the IHS if the device is an unauthorized device or allow the use of the device through the port if the device is an authorized device; and monitor for the removal of the authorized device from the port and allow the use of the authorized device through the port if the removal of the authorized device is not detected.