Methods and system for responding to detected tampering of a remotely deployed computer

method performed by a computer upon detection of tampering with the computer, the method comprising:

• with a computer comprising a cover and computer hardware comprising circuitry providing one or more processors and one or more memory devices;
• storing an encryption key, a first set of data, and a second set of data, in the one or more memory devices, the first set of data being encrypted using the encryption key;
• receiving a signal from tamper detection circuitry in the computer, the signal indicating detection of tampering with the computer;
• in response to the tampering signal, removing the encryption key from the one or more memory devices;
• after the removal of the encryption key, executing an authentication routine to attempt to authenticate the computer to a remote computer;
• failing to read the first set of data due to the lack of the encryption key;
• reading the second set of data and operating the computer in accord therewith, wherein operation of the computer with the second set of data differs from operation with the first set of data such that a remote network operations center can detect the difference.

A computer with components to detect and respond to physical tampering, comprising:

• a cover;
• computer hardware comprising:
• a first memory device storing an encryption key and a second memory device storing an authentication key, the authentication key being encrypted using the encryption key;
• a switch circuit that receives a signal from tamper detection circuitry in the computer, the signal indicating detection of tampering with the computer, and that, in response to the tampering signal, removes the encryption key from the first memory device;
• one or more hardware processors that, after the removal of the encryption key, execute an authentication routine in an attempt to authenticate the computer to a remote computer, the one or more hardware processors failing to read the authentication key due to the lack of the encryption key, and thereafter communicating with the remote computer in an un-authenticated mode.

computer with components to detect and respond to physical tampering, comprising:

• a cover;
• computer hardware comprising:
• a first memory device storing an encryption key and a second memory device storing a first and second sets of data, the first set of data being encrypted using the encryption key;
• a switch circuit that receives a signal from tamper detection circuitry in the computer, the signal indicating detection of tampering with the computer, and that, in response to the tampering signal, removes the encryption key from the first memory device;
• one or more hardware processors that, after the removal of the encryption key, execute an authentication routine in an attempt to authenticate the computer to a remote computer, the one or more hardware processors failing to read the first set of data due to the lack of the encryption key, and thereafter reading the second set of data and operating the computer in accord therewith, wherein operation of the computer with the second set of data differs from operation with the first set of data such that a remote network operations center can detect the difference.