Secure storage device

Abstract

A communication and security device for a portable computer is disclosed including a housing, a connector provided on the housing for physical connection to the portable computer, a computer interface coupled to the connector for communicating data with the portable computer, a wireless modem coupled to the computer interface for communicating data between the portable computer and a remote device via a wireless network, a regulator operable to regulate power in the communication and storage device, and a processor coupled to control the regulator, the processor coupled to the wireless modem and arranged to process at least one security command received by the wireless modem to control the regulator in response to the received command.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT / GB2009 / 050571, filed May 26, 2009, which claims the benefit of Great Britain Application Nos. GB 0809414.6, filed May 23, 2008; GB 0819089.4, filed Oct. 17, 2008; and GB 0905405.7, filed Mar. 30, 2009, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to security provision and data audit monitoring for portable computers and for portable memory storage devices, in particular for solid state memory storage devices.[0003]Laptop computers and removable memory devices having small physical size and significant data storage capacity are increasingly common. Loss or theft of such a device presents a considerable data security hazard, in addition, if devices are unattended for any time there is a risk that unauthorised access to data may occur without the knowledge of the data owner.[0004]As a result o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]Advantageously security software is provided such that operation of a computer is inhibited or prevented when a verified security and communications device is not connected to the computer or when a security and communications device does not provide verification information.

Problems solved by technology

Loss or theft of such a device presents a considerable data security hazard, in addition, if devices are unattended for any time there is a risk that unauthorised access to data may occur without the knowledge of the data owner.

As a result of their small physical size laptop computers and removable memory devices may easily be misplaced or stolen.

In recent and highly publicised examples the loss of highly sensitive or valuable information on removable memory storage devices has been shown to be damaging both to organisations and to governments.

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