Method and system for enhancing security access to a data processing system

An information handling system, comprising:

• means for verifying a failure of authenticating contents of a non-volatile memory, wherein said contents include password data for a power-on password function;
• means for determining a requesting location from where a request for access to said information handling system is received;
• and
• means for granting or denying said request for access to said information handling system based on said request location, wherein a remotely received request for access is denied and a locally received request for access is granted.

A data processing system for enhancing security upon receiving a request for access, comprising:

• a CMOS memory including password data for a power-on password function, a fixed non-null pattern and a first CRC signature;
• a service processor for checking a change of said fixed non-null pattern wherein if said fixed non-null pattern has changed, said service processor denying access to remotely received requests and granting access to locally received requests;
• and
• a CRC algorithm for calculating a second CRC signature for checking for a change against said first CRC signature wherein if said first CRC signature has changed, said service processor denying access to remotely received requests and granting access to locally received requests.

A computer program product residing on a computer usable medium for providing security to an information handling system, wherein said computer program product when executed performs the steps of:

• authenticating contents of a non-volatile memory, wherein said contents include password data for a power-on password function;
• responsive to failure to authenticate said memory, determining from where a request for access was received;
• denying said request for access to a remotely received request in response to said determination;
• and
• granting said request in response to a determination that said request was received locally.