Method for protecting data and method for managing access authority

• US 8,225,056 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Chin-Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOONAN, ERIC T
• Application Number:
  US12/198,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20090106514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/575 Secure boot

Abstract

A method for protecting data, adapted for a computer system, is provided. The computer system includes a storage device. The method includes: when the computer system executes a power-off procedure, inspecting whether a preset external storage device is connected to the computer system; if it is determined that the preset external storage device is connected to the computer system, when the computer system executes the power-off procedure, backing up data of a predetermined segment of the storage device to the preset external storage device, and generating a back-up data, and then writing a specific data template to the predetermined segment for covering original data of the predetermined segment.

Claims

1. A method for protecting data, adapted for a computer system having a storage device, the method comprising:

checking whether or not a preset external storage device is connected to the computer system, when the computer system executes a power-off procedure; and

backing up data of a predetermined segment of the storage device to the preset external storage device, and generating a back-up data, and then writing a specific data template to the predetermined segment for covering original data of the predetermined segment, when the preset external storage device is connected to the computer system as the power-off procedure of the computer system being executed.

2. The method for protecting data according to claim 1, further comprising:

checking whether or not the data in the predetermined segment is the specific data template, when the computer system is booting;

checking whether or not the preset external storage device is connected to the computer system, when the data in the predetermined segment is the specific data template;

checking whether or not the back-up data is stored in the preset external storage device connected to the computer, when the computer system is booting, and the data in the predetermined segment is the specific data template; and

writing the back-up data back to the predetermined segment, when the back-up data is stored in the preset external storage device.

3. The method for protecting data according to claim 1, wherein the preset external storage device is a non-volatile storage device.

4. The method for protecting data according to claim 1, wherein the preset external storage device is connected to the computer system via a connecting interface.

5. The method for protecting data according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined segment is a master boot recorder (MBR) sector.

6. A method for protecting data, adapted for a computer system having a storage device, the method comprising:

checking whether or not a preset external storage device is connected to the computer system, when the computer system is operated in an unusual operation status; and

backing up data of a predetermined segment of the storage device to the preset external storage device, and generating a back-up data, when the preset external storage device is connected to the computer system as the computer system being operated in an unusual operation status, and then writing a specific data template to the predetermined segment for covering original data of the predetermined segment.

7. The method for protecting data according to claim 6, further comprising:

checking whether or not the data in the predetermined segment is the specific data template, when the computer system is restarted;

checking whether or not the preset external storage device is connected to the computer system, when the data in the predetermined segment is the specific data template;

checking whether or not the back-up data is stored in the preset external storage device connected to the computer system, when the data in the predetermined segment is the specific data template, and the computer system is restarted; and

writing the back-up data back to the predetermined segment for recovering the original data of the predetermined segment, when the back-up data is stored in the preset external storage device.

8. The method for protecting data according to claim 6, wherein the unusual operation status is a sleeping status, a power saving status, or a user logging out status.

9. The method for protecting data according to claim 6, wherein the preset external storage device is a non-volatile storage device.

10. The method for protecting data according to claim 6, wherein the preset external storage device is connected to the computer system via a connecting interface.

11. The method for protecting data according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined segment is a master boot recorder (MBR) sector.

12. A method for managing an access authority for a storage device, adapted for managing a computer system having a plurality of storage devices, the method comprising:

checking whether or not a preset external storage device is connected to the computer system, when the computer system is either being executed with a power-off procedure, or being operated in an unusual operation status;

selecting data in a predetermined segment of one of the storage devices to back up to the preset external storage device, and generating a back-up data, when the preset external storage device is connected to the computer system, and then writing specific data template to the predetermined segment for covering the data in the predetermined segment, so that the data stored in the selected storage device cannot be accessed normally.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

checking whether or not the data in the predetermined segment is the specific data template, when the computer system is booting or the operation system is restarted of the computer system;

checking whether or not the preset external storage device is connected to the computer system, when the data in the predetermined segment is the specific data template;

checking whether or not the back-up data is stored in the preset external storage device connected to the computer system, when the computer system is booting and the data in the predetermined segment is the specific data template; and

writing the back-up data back to the predetermined segment of the storage device selected for protection, when the back-up data is stored in the preset external storage device, so as for allowing the storage device selected for protection to be normally accessed.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein checking whether or not the preset external storage device is connected to the computer system is inspecting a status of a preset flag by the computer system.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the unusual operation status is a sleeping status, a power saving status, or a user logging out status.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined segment is a master boot recorder (MBR) sector.