Methods and apparatus for authenticating data as originating from a storage and processing device and for securing software and data stored on the storage and processing device

A system of authenticating a user-operated computer to a remote server, comprising the steps of:

• means for establishing a connection between the user-operated computer and the remote server;
• means for executing an authentication program on the user-operated computer to create an authentication block for use in authenticating the user-operated computer, the authentication block including data previously exchanged between the remote server and the user-operated computer;
• means for encrypting the authentication block using a previously generated cryptoprocessing key created using an inventory of data relating to unique features of data storage on the user-operated computer;
• means for transmitting the authentication block to the remote server;
• means for decrypting the authentication block at the remote server using the previously generated cryptoprocessing key;
• and
• means for verifying the contents of the authentication block at the remote server.

A system of installation of a software image to a specific storage medium, comprising:

• means for creating a software image comprising a plurality of software modules connected by links;
• means for associating each link with a software module;
• means for processing each link to include location information specific to the specific storage medium;
• and
• means for placing each module associated with a link in a location corresponding to location information included in the associated link.

A system of data cryptoprocessing comprising:

• means for installing a software image comprising a plurality of modules connected by links between the modules to a storage medium by:
• means for associating each link with a software module;
• means for processing each link to include location information specific to the storage medium;
• means for placing each module associated with a link in a location corresponding to location information included in the associated link;
• means for choosing selected links;
• means for selecting data from the location corresponding to the location information included in each of the selected links;
• and
• means for using the selected data to create cryptoprocessing keys;
• and
• means for cryptoprocessing data using the cryptoprocessing keys.