Protecting against unauthorized firmware updates using induced servo errors
US9899053B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 2016 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 11, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B20/00927
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Method and apparatus for data security in a data storage device. In some embodiments, a first version of firmware is installed in a memory of the device. The firmware is used by a programmable processor to control accesses to a rotatable data recording medium on which is written pre-recorded servo positioning data used to position a data transducer. A newer, second version of the firmwave is subsequently installed in the memory to replace the first version of firmware. The second version of the firmware includes an instruction to corrupt a selected portion of the servo positioning data on the medium in order to authenticate the second version of the firmware. During a subsequent initialization of the device, host access is granted based on detection of the corruption of the selected portion of the servo positioning data.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.