Patent ID: 8549324

Claim:
A process for protecting at least one motor vehicle component against manipulation, said process comprising: dividing a code necessary for operation of a control device of the at least one motor vehicle into a plurality of code portions, wherein at least one code portion is a master code which comprises information essential for operation of the control device, and wherein at least one code portion is a sub-code which comprises additional information for operation of the control device; storing the sub-code in a first memory module; storing at least the master code in a second memory module; upon an initial startup of the control device, reading an initial identification number stored in a one-time programmable area of the first memory module, and storing the initial identification number in the second memory module as a stored identification number; and upon subsequent startups of the control device, causing the master code to monitor manipulation of the sub-code by reading a second identification number stored in a one-time programmable area of a third memory module, and comparing the stored identification number to the second identification number.