Patent ID: 7401361

Claim:
A computer implemented method comprising: setting a plurality of protected archive bits in response to altering data stored in a plurality of sectors of a hard drive, wherein each protected archive bit corresponds to a different sector; identifying one or more files that correspond to the plurality of sectors, the identification based upon the sectors' corresponding protected archive bits; scanning the identified files for viruses; authenticating a request to reset one or more of the protected archive bits that correspond to one or more of the sectors, wherein the request is made in response to the scanning; resetting the protected archive bits in response to the authentication; storing a first secret in a nonvolatile storage location that is accessible only to a hard drive controller that performs the setting and resetting of the protected archive bits; storing a second secret in a safe location accessible by a virus protection application that performs the scanning; and wherein the authenticating further includes comparing the first secret with the second secret, wherein the comparing further includes: creating a digital signature based upon the second secret; and verifying the digital signature using the first secret.