Patent ID: 7600134

Claim:
A method for theft deterrence of a computer system, the computer system having a trusted platform module (TPM) with a stored root key (SRK), and storage medium requiring a decrypted symmetric key to function in relation to the TPM, the method comprising: providing a non-migratable binding key loadable by a basic input/output system (BIOS) in the TPM; providing an encrypted symmetric key and an encrypted encryption key in the storage medium to provide a secure storage medium; providing an unbind command from the BIOS to the TPM based upon an authorization to provide a decrypted symmetric key, wherein the unbind command includes the encrypted symmetric key and an authorization digest, wherein the authorization digest is derived from a password authorization prompt and is defined as using a particular payload for the unbind command during a particular instance; and providing the decrypted symmetric key to the secure storage medium to enable use of the computer system.