Detecting and reacting to inappropriate equipment and programming in a computer system without generating alerts to unauthorized users of the detection

A computer program product for detection of changes in hardware, software, or programming of a device in a computer system by a computer in the computer system coupled to the device through a network, without generating alerts or alerting unauthorized users of the detection of the changes, the computer program product comprising:

• one or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices;
• program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, for the computer to receive at least one encrypted message from the device, the message having at least data regarding a change of hardware, software, or programming of the device;
• program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for the computer, to decrypt the message from the device to obtain the data regarding a change of hardware, software, or programming of the device from a device;
• program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for the computer, to compare an existing configuration of the programming, software and hardware of the device to the data regarding the change of hardware, software, or programming of the device from the message to obtain differences between the existing configuration of the device and the data regarding the change of hardware, software, or programming of the device;
• if differences are present between the existing configuration of the device and the data regarding the change of hardware, software, or programming of the device, program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for the computer, to:
• determine whether additional messages are to be sent to the device, and if additional messages are to be sent:
• program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for the computer, to generate and send an encrypted message approving the change to the device, such that change to the device takes place;
• and
• program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for the computer, to update the existing configuration to include the approved changes.

A system for detection of changes in hardware, software, or programming of a device in a computer system by a computer in the computer system coupled to the device through a network, without generating alerts or alerting unauthorized users of the detection of the changes, the system comprising:

• one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories and one or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices;
• program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories for the computer, to receive at least one encrypted message from the device, the message having at least data regarding a change of hardware, software, or programming of the device;
• program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories for the computer, to decrypt the message from the device to obtain the data regarding a change of hardware, software, or programming of the device from a device;
• program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories for the computer, to compare an existing configuration of the programming, software and hardware of the device to the data regarding the change of hardware, software, or programming of the device from the message to obtain differences between the existing configuration of the device and the data regarding the change of hardware, software, or programming of the device;
• if differences are present between the existing configuration of the device and the data regarding the change of hardware, software, or programming of the device, program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories for the computer, to:
• determine whether additional messages are to be sent to the device, and if additional messages are to be sent:
• program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories for the computer, to generate and send an encrypted message approving the change to the device, such that change to the device takes place;
• and
• program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories for the computer, to update the existing configuration to include the approved changes.