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Systems and methods for protecting against unauthorized access of encrypted data during power-management modes

  • US 8,555,083 B1
  • Filed: 07/22/2010
  • Issued: 10/08/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for protecting against unauthorized access of encrypted data during power-management modes, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

  • detecting initiation of a power-management mode that suspends the functionality of at least one component of the computing device while maintaining the functionality of the computing device'"'"'s memory;

    before the computing device enters the power-management mode;

    identifying, within the memory of the computing device, an encryption key that is required to access encrypted data stored in a storage device of the computing device;

    removing the encryption key from the memory of the computing device in order to protect against unauthorized access of the encrypted data during implementation of the power-management mode;

    upon discontinuation of the power-management mode, obtaining user credentials from a user of the computing device in order to authenticate the user;

    upon successful authentication of the user, regenerating the encryption key based at least in part on the user credentials by entering at least a portion of the user credentials into a key derivation function that regenerates the encryption key by introducing a salt that expands the portion of the user credentials into the encryption key in order to enable access to the encrypted data stored in the storage device.

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