Apparatus and method for protecting a computer system against computer viruses and unauthorized access

A virus trap computer system for protecting a host computer system from an intrusion such as a computer virus or an unauthorized access, said virus trap computer system comprising:

• an embedded personal computer coupled to said host computer system, said embedded personal computer capable of receiving all external computer communications that are directed to said host computer system, and capable of detecting an intrusion before said intrusion reaches said host computer system;
• a mass storage device coupled to said embedded personal computer;
• a restoration controller coupled to said embedded personal computer and coupled to said mass storage device, said restoration controller capable of deleting said intrusion by erasing data within said embedded personal computer and within said mass storage device, said restoration controller capable of supplying a clean version of said erased data to said embedded personal computer and to said mass storage device;
• and
• a mass storage integrity controller coupled to said embedded personal computer and to said mass storage device, said mass storage integrity controller capable of detecting an intrusion on said mass storage device.

A method for protecting a host computer system from an intrusion such as a computer virus or an unauthorized access, said method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a virus trap computer system to said host computer system, said virus trap computer system comprising an embedded personal computer coupled to said host computer;
• receiving in said embedded personal computer all external computer communications that are directed to said host computer system;
• and
• detecting said intrusion in said embedded personal computer before said intrusion reaches said host computer system.