Network Adapter Removal Detection for Hard Drive Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

Always-on asset protection systems can be thwarted if the network adapter is removed or disabled, allowing unauthorized access to the information handling system's data.

Innovation Solution

A tamper evident indicator is set in nonvolatile memory when the network adapter is removed, and the hard drive and power-on passwords are changed to a supervisory password, requiring authentication to access the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If network adapter is removed or disabled to bypass protection, then system accessibility is improved, but security is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem accessibilityVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting network adapter removal and proactively changing passwords before unauthorized access can occur. The BIOS detects the missing network adapter during system initialization and automatically updates the hard drive password and power-on password to supervisory passwords, preventing thieves from bypassing security by removing the network adapter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If always-on network protection is implemented, then security monitoring is improved, but vulnerability to adapter removal is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity monitoringVSAvoidvulnerability to adapter removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the harmful act of network adapter removal into a beneficial security trigger. When the network adapter is removed or disabled, this harmful action directly triggers the security response by setting the tamper evident indicator and changing passwords to supervisory passwords, thereby transforming the vulnerability into an activated protection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If network adapter removal triggers security measures, then security is improved, but system operability is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsystem operability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by implementing different password requirements for different access scenarios. When network adapter removal is detected, the system locally changes the hard drive password and power-on password to supervisory passwords, which provide enhanced security for that specific tampered state while maintaining normal operation for authorized users who possess the correct supervisory credentials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8090962B2System and method for protecting assets using wide area network connection

Publication Date: 2012.01.03 LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH

AI summary

A system, method, and program product is provided that detects whether a network adapter has been removed from a computer system. If the network adapter, such as a wireless network adapter, has been removed from the computer system, then a tamper evident indicator (e.g., bit) is set in a nonvolatile memory area of the computer system. In addition, a hard drive password is set to a different password according to a hard drive password policy. The hard drive password controls access to files stored on the hard drive. In one embodiment, the power-on password is also changed to a new password so that the user has to enter the new power-on password when initializing the computer system in order to access the files stored on the computer system.