Method of data protection

Abstract

A method of protecting data received on a client device while coupled to a network through a communication channel has been disclosed. A client device (130) may receive protected data through a communication channel (140). A user public key (320) and a user private key (410) may be received by the client device (130). When protected data is to be stored on permanent storage (640), a link to a hidden file (220) may be generated using a random number generator. The link may be encrypted using user public key (320) to generate an encrypted link. Protected data may be stored in hidden file (220) and the encrypted link may be stored in a shield file (210). When the protected data is read from permanent storage (640), the encrypted link may be decrypted using user private key (410) to generate the link identifying hidden file (220). User private key (410) may not be stored on permanent storage (640). In this way, protected data may be provided with security and unauthorized use and/or theft of protected data may be reduced.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.