Computer security apparatus and method

• US 5,406,261 A
• Filed: 01/11/1993
• Issued: 04/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James T. Glenn
• Original Assignee: James T. Glenn
• Inventors: Glenn, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/002,645
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/568, 340/540, 340/500, 340/825.37
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/74 operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/81 by operating on the power supply, e.g. enabling or disabling power-on, sleep or resume operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/87 by means of encapsulation, e.g. for integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2207/7219 Countermeasures against side channel or fault attacks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2147 Locking files
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Unauthorized access to a computer system is prevented by controlling power distribution to components within the computer system by a remotely controllable switch. An authorized computer user utilizes a radio frequency, infrared, ultrasonic or other type of wireless coded signal transmitter to send coded signals to a matching wireless receiver within the computer system that controls the power distribution switch. The computer user may additionally set an alarm that will sound if the computer system is tampered with or attempted to be used when disabled. Highly sensitive data is protected from being compromised by disabling the read circuits of the computer system data storage memory and for ultra critical data, the data storage system may be rendered permanently inoperative.

Claims

1. An apparatus for alarming when unauthorized operation or handling of a computer system is attempted, comprising:

an electrical signal sensor which detects an input signal generated by unauthorized operation or handling of the computer system , said sensor generating an output signal upon detection of the input signal;

an alarm having armed and disarmed states; and

means for selecting the armed and disarmed states of said alarm, said selecting means connected to said alarm,

said sensor being connected to said alarm, whereby the output signal of said sensor actuates said alarm when in the armed state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said alarm is an electronic siren which produces a plurality of high decibel sounds.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said selecting means is a switch.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said selecting means is a remotely controllable switch.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery for powering said alarm.

6. An apparatus for preventing unauthorized access to a computer system by controlling power distribution to components of the computer system and alarming when unauthorized operation or handling of the computer system is attempted, comprising:

means for controlling power distribution to components of the computer system, said control means adapted for connection to a computer system power supply;

said control means having enabled and disabled states, wherein said control means connects power to the components of the computer system when in the enabled state and disconnects power when in the disabled state;

means for detecting unauthorized operation or handling of the computer system, said detecting means generating a signal when there is unauthorized operation or handling of the computer system;

an alarm having armed and disarmed states; and

means for selecting said control means enabled and disabled states and said alarm armed and disarmed states, wherein said selecting means has one or more unique codes for selecting the enabled and disabled states of said control means and the armed and disarmed states of said alarm,

said detecting means being connected to said alarm, wherein the signal of said detecting means actuates said alarm when in the armed state.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said selecting means is a radio frequency transmitter and receiver having coded signals for selecting a plurality of functions.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said selecting means is an infrared transmitter and receiver having coded signals for selecting a plurality of functions.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said selecting means is an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver having coded signals for selecting a plurality of functions.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said selecting means is a voice recognition receiver for decoding unique voice commands to select a plurality of functions.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said selecting means is a finger print reader for recognizing unique finger prints to select a plurality of functions.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a programmable time clock connected to said selecting means and used to prevent selecting the enabled state of said control means before a programmed length of time has elapsed.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said detecting means is a motion sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said motion sensor is a mercury switch having a first state when sensing the computer system in a horizontal and stationary position, and having a second state when sensing that the computer system is being moved, whereby the second state causes an output signal to be generated by said mercury switch.

15. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means to connect said detecting means to said control means for selectively disabling power distribution to the components of the computer system upon detecting unauthorized access to the computer system.

16. An apparatus for preventing unauthorized access to data contained within a memory storage device of a computer system by disabling data read access circuits of the memory storage device, comprising:

means for detecting unauthorized operation or handling of the computer system, said detecting means generating a signal when there is unauthorized operation or handling of the computer system;

means for disabling memory storage data read access circuits of the computer system, said disabling means having armed and disarmed states;

said disabling means adapted for connection to a memory storage device of the computer system; and

means for selecting the armed and disarmed states of said disabling means, said selecting means connected to said disabling means,

said detecting means being connected to said disabling means, whereby the signal of said detecting means actuates said disabling means when in the armed state and said disabling means disables the data read access circuits of the memory storage device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said disabling means is a high voltage generator connected to the computer system memory storage device for the purpose of destroying the data read access circuits contained therein.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said disabling means is a microexplosive device for destroying the computer system memory storage device.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a means for time delay, said time delay means inhibiting actuation of said disabling means for a predetermined time; and

an alarm for alarming during the predetermined time.

20. An apparatus for preventing unauthorized access to a computer system by controlling power distribution to components of the computer system, comprising:

means for controlling power distribution to components of the computer system;

said control means having enabled and disabled states, wherein said control means is adapted for connection between a computer system power supply and the computer system components and connects power to the components of the computer system when in the enabled state and disconnects power when in the disabled state; and

means for selecting the enabled and disabled states of said control means, wherein said selecting means has one or more unique codes for selecting the enabled and disabled states of said control means.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said control means is a relay.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said control means is a transistor.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said control means is a plurality of transistors.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said control means is a semiconductor switching device.

25. An apparatus for preventing unauthorized access to a computer system by controlling power distribution to components of the computer system and alarming when unauthorized handling of the computer system is attempted, comprising:

a remotely controllable power switch having on and off states for distributing power to components of the computer system, said power switch adapted for connection between a power supply and the components of the computer system;

a motion detector for detecting unauthorized handling of the computer system, said motion detector generating a signal when there is unauthorized handling of the computer system;

an alarm having armed and disarmed states; and

a wireless remote control transmitter and receiver system having a plurality of coded signals for controlling said power switch and alarm states,

said motion detector being connected to said alarm, whereby the signal of said motion detector actuates said alarm when in the armed state.

26. An method for preventing unauthorized access to a computer system by controlling power distribution to components of the computer system and alarming when unauthorized operation or handling of the computer system is attempted, comprising the steps of:

controlling power distribution to subsystems of the computer system with a remotely controllable switch having on an off states, and adapted for connection between a power supply and the subsystems of the computer system;

selecting the on state of the remotely controllable switch to enable the computer system and the off state to disable the computer system;

detecting unauthorized operation or handling of the computer system with a signal or motion sensor, respectively; and

arming an alarm in response to detecting the unauthorized operation or handling, whereby the alarm signals the unauthorized operation or handling of the computer system.

27. A method for preventing unauthorized access to data contained within a memory storage device of a computer system by disabling data read access circuits of the memory storage device, comprising the steps of:

detecting unauthorized operation or handling of the computer system with a signal or motion sensor, respectively; and

disabling data read access circuits of the memory storage device of the computer system when an unauthorized operation or handling of the computer system is detected.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

delaying for a predetermined time the disabling of data read access circuits of the memory storage device; and

alarming during the predetermined time.

29. A method for preventing unauthorized access to a computer system by disabling power to components of the computer system when detecting selected input command codes, comprising the steps of:

detecting unauthorized access to the computer system with a signal sensor that detects selected input command codes; and

disabling power to selected components of the computer system upon detection of the selected input command codes.