Methods and apparatus for authenticating a firmware settings input file

A computer system comprising:

• memory storing computer-executable instructions;
• and
• a processing unit in communication with the memory, wherein the processing unit executing the computer-executable instructions causes the computer system to perform operations comprising:
• receiving a firmware settings input file and a code associated with the firmware settings input file, the firmware settings input file being configured for updating firmware settings within the computer system;
• generating a first value based on the firmware settings input file;
• decrypting the code with an encryption key to obtain a second value from the code;
• comparing the first value and the second value to authenticate the firmware settings input file based on whether the first value matches the second value;
• and
• updating the firmware settings within the computer system based on the firmware settings input file when the first value and the second value match.

A computer-implemented method for generating an authenticated firmware settings input file, the method comprising:

• generating a code associated with a firmware settings input file, the firmware settings input file being configured for updating firmware settings within a computer system;
• encrypting the code with an encryption key to create an encrypted code;
• and
• appending the encrypted code to the firmware settings input file to generate the authenticated firmware settings input file.