Notebook security system (NBS)

A multi-level security system to prevent unauthorized use of a computer, said system comprising,

• a program resident on said computer and implementing a user-validation procedure;
• a key device to be inserted into the computer by the user to gain use of the computer, and carrying an access code, a first serial number and an encryption key;
• means for storing in said computer a second serial number, said second serial number being the serial number of a device internal to said computer;
• a mass storage device installed in said computer and storing a validation record;
• said validation record comprising an unencrypted portion and an encrypted portion, said unencrypted portion including copies of said access code and said first serial number and said encrypted portion including a copy of said second serial number;
• means for interfacing said key device to said computer;
• means for writing said copy of access code to said key device comprising means for comparing said access code to said copy of access code;
• and
• means for reading said first serial number and said encryption key from said key device.

A multi-level security system to prevent unauthorized use of a computer, said system comprising:

• a key device to be inserted into the computer by the user to gain use of the computer and carrying a first serial number;
• a device installed in said computer and storing a validation record, said validation record having a copy of said first serial number;
• an interface to connect said key device to said computer and to provide a pathway to read said first serial number;
• a computer program to compare said first serial number from said key device to said copy of said first serial number;
• and,
• means for automatically powering down said computer if said first serial number and said copy of said first serial number do not match.

A method for securing a computer comprising the steps of:

• carrying a first serial number and an encryption key in a key device;
• inserting said key device by a user into the computer to gain use of the computer;
• storing a copy of a second serial number in a device in said computer;
• storing a validation record in at least one storage device installed in said computer, said validation record having a copy of said first serial number, and having an encrypted version of said second serial number;
• providing a pathway to read said first serial number and said encryption key through an interface connecting said key device to said computer;
• comparing said first serial number from said key device to said copy of said first serial number;
• decrypting said second serial number from said validation record using said encryption key, to produce a decrypted version of said second serial number;
• comparing said decrypted version of said second serial number with said copy of said second serial number;
• powering down said computer if said first serial number and said copy of said first serial number do not match;
• and,
• powering down said computer if said copy of said second serial number and said decrypted copy of said second serial number do not match.