Patent ID: 8640226

Claim:
A machine-implemented method for processing a hard reset operation on a handheld device, comprising: receiving, via an operating system kernel, the hard reset operation on the handheld device and interacting with hardware of the handheld device to disable all interrupts; enforcing a configured security policy before permitting the hard reset operation to proceed, wherein enforcing further includes prompting a user of the handheld device to enter authentication credentials defined by the configured security policy before proceeding further with the hard reset operation on the handheld device, the authentication credentials are different from other authentication credentials of the user for access to the handheld device or log on to the handheld device, and the authentication credentials are a secure Personal Identification Number (PIN) that has to be provided within a limited time duration by the user otherwise the interrupts are re-enabled; and backing up user data held on the handheld device to a different location that is external from the handheld device when the security policy is successfully enforced.