Patent ID: 8549619

Claim:
A security system for a removable data storage device (RDSD), comprising: one or more information handling systems each comprising a processor, at least one of the processors accessing a plurality of data files stored in said RDSD; and a trusted information module (TIM) comprising a non-volatile storage medium, the non-volatile storage medium securely storing security credentials, wherein said security credentials are not associated with a user; wherein said TIM initiates executable software authentication and authorization processes to: authenticate said RDSD to said information handling systems, wherein said executable software authentication and authorization processes are performed using said securely stored security credentials without user input of additional authentication or authorization information; authorize access and usage of said plurality of data files by said one or more information handling systems; and, convey a message via the TIM to the one or more information handling systems asserting authenticity of the RDSD; and wherein said TIM initiates comparison and cryptographic operations using said executable software authentication and authorization processes to authenticate said one or more information handling systems to said RDSD; said TIM initiates comparison and cryptographic operations using said executable software authentication and authorization processes to authenticate a predetermined user to said RDSD; said TIM initiates executable software comparison and cryptographic operations to determine if the integrity of said plurality of data files has been compromised prior to authorizing their access and usage by said information handling systems; said TIM is coupled to said RDSD through a predetermined interface, wherein: said predetermined interface is internally coupled to said RDSD, said predetermined interface is externally coupled to said RDSD, or said TIM is removable from said predetermined interface.