Patent ID: 8332638

Claim:
A method for securing a data set, the method steps implemented by a programmed computer system, the method steps comprising: encrypting, using a computer, the data set based on a first key to produce an encrypted data set; generating, using a computer, data splitting information, wherein the data splitting information is usable to determine into which of a plurality of shares of data a unit of data of the encrypted data set will be placed; separating, using a computer, the encrypted data set into the plurality of shares based on the data splitting information; including, using a computer, in the plurality of shares data indicative of the first key; encrypting, using a computer, the plurality of shares; causing, using a computer, each of the plurality of shares to be stored in respective separate storage locations; and causing, using a computer, information required to decrypt the plurality of shares to be stored elsewhere than the storage locations of the plurality of shares; wherein the data set is restorable by accessing less than all, but at least a threshold number of, the plurality of shares and the information.