Operating system garbage-collection with integrated clearing of sensitive data
US11120147B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 2018 |
| Grant date | Sep 14, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 11, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/7205
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computerized operating system begins a garbage-collection operation by collecting a set of “garbage” data objects to be deleted. Certain of these objects are identified, either by an embedded identifier or by an entry in a sensitive-objects data structure, as containing sensitive data. When the garbage collector moves or deletes a sensitive object during the garbage-collection procedure, the collector zeroes out any residual data left at the object's original location in memory or secondary storage. If the collector determines that the object no longer has any connection to other software entities, the collector zeroes out the storage locations of all identified instances of the object. The collector then updates the data structure to indicate the current location of sensitive objects that have been moved or copied, and deletes entries for zeroed out instances of deleted sensitive objects.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.