Patent ID: 7076666

Claim:
A method for securing a hard disk device, said method comprising: providing an encryption key to a component and to a hard disk device (HDD) associatable with the component; encrypting an original number using the key to render an encrypted original number: sending the encrypted original number to a receiving one of the component and the NDD; decrypting the encrypted original number to render a decrypted original number at the receiving one; processing the decrypted original number at the receiving one using a predetermined processing protocol in render a new number; encrypting the new number with the key at the receiving one to render an encrypted new number; transmitting the encrypted new number from the receiving one to the other of the component and the HDD; decrypting the encrypted new number to render a decrypted new number; using an inverse of the processing protocol, processing the new number to render a test number; and confirming, by the hard disk device, that the component has the key before the hard disk device responds to any commands at least from the component to access stored data, confirmation that the component has the key being indicated only if the test number matches the original number.