Apparatus and system for a virus-resistant computing platform

• US 20020078366A1
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joseph Raice
• Original Assignee: Joseph Raice
• Inventors: Raice, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/739,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078366A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/56 Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/80 in storage media based on magnetic or optical technology, e.g. disks with sectors preventing unauthorised reproduction or copying of disc-type recordable media G11B20/00

Abstract

An apparatus and related method are provided which control virus damage to a computer system by restricting access to disk drives. The apparatus includes a first disk drive containing a computer operating system and application programs, a second disk drive containing user data files, and a first and second switch. Both of the switches are operable between write-enabling and write-disabling states.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling virus damage to a computer system comprising:

(i) a first disk drive containing a computer operating system and application programs;

(ii) a second disk drive containing data files of an individual user;

(iii) a first switch manually operable between a write-enabling state and a write-disabling state communicating with and respectively leaving unprotected and protected the first disk drive; and

(iv) a second switch manually operable between a write-enabling state and a write-disabling state communicating with and respectively leaving unprotected and protected a second disk drive.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a third disk drive which does not communicate with any switch operable between write-enabling and write-disabling states.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second disk drives are disk drives.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second switches are selected from the group consisting of key-lock, toggle, rocker, push-button, fully isolated electro-mechanical and fully isolated electronic switches.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second disk drives are data drives within the computer system.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the computer system comprises a housing into or onto which are mounted the first and second switches.

7. A method for restricting access to disk drives of a personal computer comprising:

providing a personal computer with a virus-resistant apparatus comprising;

(i) a first disk drive containing a computer operating system and application programs;

(ii) a second disk drive containing data files of an individual user;

(iii) a first switch manually operable between a write-enabling state and a write-disabling state communicating with and respectively leaving unprotected and protected the first disk drive; and

(iv) a second switch manually operable between a write-enabling state and a write-disabling state communicating with and respectively leaving unprotected and protected a second disk drive;

operating the first and second switches to the write-enabling and write-enabling states.