Computer security method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of securing data stored on an electronic device, the method comprising encrypting the data using a cryptographic key derivable from or accessed using a passphrase, requiring the entry into the device of the passphrase when a user wishes to access the data, subsequently inhibiting access to the data whilst the device remains active, and requiring the entry into the device of a predefined password when a user wishes to access the data, the password being different from the passphrase.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of securing data stored on an electronic device 1, the method comprising encrypting the data using a cryptographic key derivable from or accessed using a passphrase, requiring the entry into the device of the passphrase when a user wishes to access the data, subsequently inhibiting access to the data whilst the device 1 remains active, and requiring the entry into the device of a predefined password when a user wishes to access the data, the password being different from the passphrase.
76 Citations
8 Claims
- 1. A method of securing data stored on an electronic device, the method comprising encrypting the data using a cryptographic key derivable from or accessed using a passphrase, requiring the entry into the device of the passphrase when a user wishes to access the data, subsequently inhibiting access to the data whilst the device remains active, and requiring the entry into the device of a predefined password when a user wishes to access the data, the password being different from the passphrase.
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5. A method of preventing unauthorised access to electronic data stored on a computer device, the method comprising:
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requesting a user to input a passphrase into the device;
receiving an entered passphrase and using the passphrase to generate or access a cryptographic key;
storing the cryptographic key in a memory of the device, wherein the stored key can be used to subsequently encrypt and decrypt data on the device;
subsequently inhibiting a user from accessing data on the device after a predefined period, or after a predefined period of non-use, or after some predefined action by the user;
requesting a user to input a password into the device;
receiving the password and, only if the password corresponds to a predefined password which is different from said passphrase, allowing the user to access data on the device, otherwise continuing to inhibit a user from accessing data on the device.
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6. Apparatus for securing electronic data, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory for storing encrypted and unencrypted data;
first processing means for encrypting data using a cryptographic key derivable from or accessed using a passphrase;
input means for receiving the passphrase from a user when the user wishes to access the data;
second processing means for subsequently inhibiting access to the data whilst the device remains active, and for requiring the entry into the device of a predefined password via said input means when a user wishes to access the data, the password being different from the passphrase. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A computer storage medium having stored thereon a program for causing a computer device to secure data stored on the electronic device by:
encrypting the data using a cryptographic key derivable from or accessed using a passphrase, requiring the entry into the device of the passphrase when a user wishes to access the data, subsequently inhibiting access to the data whilst the device remains active, and requiring the entry into the device of a predefined password when a user wishes to access the data, the password being different from the password.
Specification