Apparatus and method for securing portable storage devices

A peripheral, comprising:

• an input/output interface;
• and
• a non-volatile memory coupled to the input/output interface, the non-volatile memory including a first portion configured to store user data received over the input/output interface and a second portion having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:
• detecting a coupling of the input/output interface to a host;
• in response to detecting the coupling, determining whether a predetermined remote network device is accessible via a network interface of the host;
• and
• preventing the host from accessing the first portion of the non-volatile memory of the peripheral in response to determining that the predetermined remote network device is not accessible via the network interface of the host.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a memory device having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:
• receiving a validation request originating from a peripheral device coupled to a host;
• determining whether to prevent the host from transferring user data to or from the peripheral in response to receiving the validation request;
• and
• transmitting a signal addressed to a network interface of the host based on a result of the determination.

A method, comprising:

• detecting a coupling of an input/output interface of a peripheral to a host;
• in response to detecting the coupling, determining whether a predetermined remote network device is accessible via a network interface of the host;
• and
• preventing the host from accessing over the input/output interface a portion of a non-volatile memory that corresponds to user data in response to determining that the predetermined remote network device is not accessible via the network interface of the host.

A method, comprising:

• receiving over a network a validation request originating from a peripheral device coupled to a host using an input/output interface of the peripheral device;
• determining whether to prevent the host from transferring user data to or from the peripheral device over the input/output interface in response to receiving the validation request;
• and
• transmitting over the network a signal addressed to a network interface of the host based on a result of the determination.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for receiving over a network a validation request originating from a peripheral device coupled to a host using an input/output interface of the peripheral device;
• means for determining whether to prevent the host from transferring user data to or from the peripheral device over the input/output interface in response to receiving the validation request;
• and
• means for transmitting over the network a signal addressed to a network interface of the host based on a result of the determination.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for receiving data from a host;
• means for storing the data received over the receiving means;
• means for determining whether a predetermined remote network device is accessible via a network interface of the host in response to the receiving means coupling to the host;
• and
• means for preventing the host from accessing the storing means in response to determining that the predetermined remote network device is not accessible via the network interface of the host.