Securing a computer against undesired write operations to or read operations from a mass storage device
First Claim
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1. A method of securing a computer against unauthorized accessing of a predetermined set of the storage domains, where said computer comprises a mass storage device which includes:
- a data storage medium divided into a series of storage domains, and a read-write head for read-write accessing of the data storage medium;
control means for controlling the mass storage device; and
a bus connecting the control means to the mass storage device, which bus includes a stepping line to which stepping signals are applied by the control means for stepping the read-write head from one storage domain to the next, and a direction control line to which direction control signals are applied by the control means for controlling the direction in which the read-write head is stepped,which method comprises, in counting means connected to the stepping line and the direction control line between the control means and the mass storage device, and in response to the stepping signals and direction control signals, keeping a count corresponding to the position of the read-write head relative to the data storage medium, and in response to the count in the counting means, inhibiting access to said predetermined set of storage domains.
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Abstract
A method of protecting a computer against "trojan" or "virus" programs is disclosed. A device 24 is connected in the bus between the disk controller card 16 and the disk drive 14 of the computer. The device monitors the bus and alerts the user when any illegitimate write attempts to a protected area of the disk is detected.
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8 Claims
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1. A method of securing a computer against unauthorized accessing of a predetermined set of the storage domains, where said computer comprises a mass storage device which includes:
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a data storage medium divided into a series of storage domains, and a read-write head for read-write accessing of the data storage medium; control means for controlling the mass storage device; and a bus connecting the control means to the mass storage device, which bus includes a stepping line to which stepping signals are applied by the control means for stepping the read-write head from one storage domain to the next, and a direction control line to which direction control signals are applied by the control means for controlling the direction in which the read-write head is stepped, which method comprises, in counting means connected to the stepping line and the direction control line between the control means and the mass storage device, and in response to the stepping signals and direction control signals, keeping a count corresponding to the position of the read-write head relative to the data storage medium, and in response to the count in the counting means, inhibiting access to said predetermined set of storage domains. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. For use with a computer comprising:
- a mass storage device which includes a data storage medium divided into a series of storage domains, and a read-write head for read-write accessing of the data storage medium;
control means for controlling the mass storage device; and
a bus connecting the control means to the mass storage device, which bus includes a stepping line to which stepping signals are applied by the control means for stepping the read-write head from one storage domain to the next, and a direction control line to which direction control signals are applied by the control means for controlling the direction in which the read-write head is stepped;
an accessory device for securing the computer against unauthorized accessing of a predetermined set of the storage domains, the accessory device comprising;a bus connection for insertion in the bus between the control means and the mass storage device and including a stepping line connection for insertion in the stepping line and a direction control line connection for insertion in the direction control line; counting means connected to the stepping line connection and the direction control line connection, which is operative in response to the stepping signals and direction control signals to keep a count corresponding to the position of the read-write head relative to the data storage medium; and gate means for inhibiting access to said predetermined set of storage domains in response to the count in the counting means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
- a mass storage device which includes a data storage medium divided into a series of storage domains, and a read-write head for read-write accessing of the data storage medium;
Specification