SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR RENDERING AT LEAST A PORTION OF DATA USELESS IN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO A DELETE COMMAND

• US 20100146236A1
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Danilak, Radoslav
• Application Number:
  US12/330,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20100146236A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/166
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for rendering at least a portion of data useless in immediate response to a delete command. In operation, a delete command directed to an operating system is received for deleting data from memory. Furthermore, in immediate response to the delete command, a process is initiated for rendering at least a portion of the data useless.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a delete command directed to an operating system for deleting data from memory; and

in immediate response to the delete command, initiating a process for rendering at least a portion of the data useless.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the process includes a background process.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data is encrypted and the process deletes a key associated with the encryption.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the process zeroes at least the portion of the data.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the process results in an appearance that the at least the portion of the data is zeroed.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the process results in the memory being used as scratch memory.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the process is carried out utilizing a memory controller.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the process is initiated utilizing a command.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the command includes a write command instructing a system to write a string of zeros.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the command includes a modified write command.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the process is initiated in immediate response to the delete command to reduce a chance that the data is accessible for security purposes.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the process avoids immediate deletion of all of the data for performance purposes.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the operating system indicates that the data is not available, in immediate response to the delete command.

14. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the memory includes non-volatile memory.

15. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the memory is included in a portable memory device.

16. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for receiving a delete command directed to an operating system for deleting data from memory; and

computer code for, in immediate response to the delete command, initiating a process for rendering at least a portion of the data useless.

17. The computer program product as set forth in claim 16, wherein the process includes a background process.

18. The computer program product as set forth in claim 16, wherein the data is encrypted and the process deletes a key associated with the encryption.

19. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the process zeroes at least the portion of the data.

20. A system, comprising:

an interface for receiving a delete command directed to an operating system for deleting data from memory; and

a memory controller for, in immediate response to the delete command, initiating a process for rendering at least a portion of the data useless.