Apparatus, system, and method for detecting theft of network devices
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a secure storage device that securely stores an initial geographic location of a network device that facilitates network traffic within a network; and
a processing unit communicatively coupled to the secure storage device, wherein the processing unit;
determines a current geographic location of the network device that facilitates network traffic within the network;
detects evidence of theft of the network device by;
determining that the network device is experiencing an unexpected power outage;
in response to determining that the network device is experiencing the unexpected power outage, comparing the current geographic location of the network device with the initial geographic location of the network device securely stored in the secure storage device; and
determining, based at least in part on the comparison, that the current geographic location of the network device does not match the initial geographic location of the network device; and
in response to detecting the evidence of theft of the network device, protects the network device from threats of theft by;
utilizing a dying gasp capacitor within the network device to alert an administrator of the network device about both the unexpected power outage and the current geographic location of the network device; and
directing the network device to operate within a restricted mode of operation until determining that the administrator has entered, into the network device, authentication credentials that enable the network device to return to a normal mode of operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed apparatus may include a secure storage device that securely stores an initial geographic location of a network device that facilitates network traffic within a network. This apparatus may also include a processing unit communicatively coupled to the secure storage device. The processing unit may determine a current geographic location of the network device. The policy-enforcement unit may then detect evidence of theft of the network device by (1) comparing the current geographic location of the network device with the initial geographic location of the network device and (2) determining, based at least in part on the comparison, that the current geographic location of the network device does not match the initial geographic location of the network device. Finally, the processing unit may perform at least one security action in response to detecting the evidence of theft of the network device.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a secure storage device that securely stores an initial geographic location of a network device that facilitates network traffic within a network; and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the secure storage device, wherein the processing unit; determines a current geographic location of the network device that facilitates network traffic within the network; detects evidence of theft of the network device by; determining that the network device is experiencing an unexpected power outage; in response to determining that the network device is experiencing the unexpected power outage, comparing the current geographic location of the network device with the initial geographic location of the network device securely stored in the secure storage device; and determining, based at least in part on the comparison, that the current geographic location of the network device does not match the initial geographic location of the network device; and in response to detecting the evidence of theft of the network device, protects the network device from threats of theft by; utilizing a dying gasp capacitor within the network device to alert an administrator of the network device about both the unexpected power outage and the current geographic location of the network device; and directing the network device to operate within a restricted mode of operation until determining that the administrator has entered, into the network device, authentication credentials that enable the network device to return to a normal mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip that securely stores an initial geographic location of a router that facilitates network traffic within a network; and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the TPM chip, wherein the processing unit; determines a current geographic location of the router that facilitates network traffic within the network; detects evidence of theft of the router by; determining that the router is experiencing an unexpected power outage; in response to determining that the router is experiencing the unexpected power outage, comparing the current geographic location of the router with the initial geographic location of the router securely stored in the TPM chip; and determining, based at least in part on the comparison, that the current geographic location of the router does not match the initial geographic location of the router; and in response to detecting the evidence of theft of the router, protects the router from threats of theft by; utilizing a dying gasp capacitor within the router to alert an administrator of the router about both the unexpected power outage and the current geographic location of the router; and directing the router to operate within a restricted mode of operation until determining that the administrator has entered, into the router, authentication credentials that enable the router to return to normal mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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determining a current geographic location of a network device; detecting evidence of theft of the network device by; determining that the network device is experiencing an unexpected power outage; in response to determining that the network device is experiencing the unexpected power outage, comparing the current geographic location of the network device with an initial geographic location of the network device securely stored in connection with the network device; and determining, based at least in part on the comparison, that the current geographic location of the network device does not match the initial geographic location of the network device; and in response to detecting the evidence of theft of the network device, protecting the network device from threats of theft by; utilizing a dying gasp capacitor within the network device to alert an administrator of the network device about both the unexpected power outage and the current geographic location of the network device; and directing the network device to operate within a restricted mode of operation until determining that the administrator has entered, into the network device, authentication credentials that enable the network device to return to a normal mode of operation.
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Specification