Securing digital data by automatic mechanism incapacitating data storage device
Techniques are presented for physically incapacitating data storage functionality of a computer data storage device for preventing access of data stored on the device. A security breach can be detected of a device housing a component communicable with a computer and where digital data is storable on the component. A mechanism can be activated for physically disabling the component in the device, in response to the detecting of the security breach. The incapacitating of the component can be a result of the mechanism physically contacting the component, in response to the activation of the mechanism, and the incapacitating of the component renders digital data stored on the component unretrievable by a computer.
1. A computer-implemented method for physically incapacitating data storage functionality of a computer data storage device for preventing access of data stored on the device, comprising:
detecting a security breach of a sealed device defining an inner chamber housing a component communicable with a computer, and digital data being storable on the component, the detecting of the security breach of the sealed device including monitoring the sealed device using a computer communicating with a mechanism, the computer being capable of activating the mechanism for rendering the sealed device inoperable, and wherein the security breach of the sealed device includes a physical event to the sealed device;
activating the mechanism which communicates with the inner chamber for physically disabling the component in the sealed device, in response to the detecting of the security breach; and
incapacitating the component as a result of the mechanism physically contacting the component, in response to the activation of the mechanism, the incapacitating of the component renders digital data stored on the component unretrievable by a computer.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is positioned in the sealed device to physically contact and incapacitate the component in response to the activation of the mechanism.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is positioned in the sealed device in a biased state to physically contact the component; and
the mechanism is released to an unbiased state to incapacitate the component in response to the activation of the mechanism.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the component includes a computer readable data storage medium.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an authorized activation instruction at the computer, of a protocol sent by a user; and
in response to the receiving of the authorized activation instruction, initiating the activating of the mechanism for physically incapacitating the component in the device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the incapacitation of the component includes physical disablement of computer readable storage medium included in the component, wherein data stored on the computer readable storage medium is unreadable by a computer.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism includes a series of elements and the component includes a series of modules, the series of elements spatially corresponding to the series of elements, respectively, and the series of elements physically incapacitating the corresponding series of modules in the sealed device, in response to the activation of the mechanism.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising,
activating a series of mechanisms for physically incapacitating corresponding components in the sealed device, wherein the mechanism is part of the series of mechanisms, and the component is part of the corresponding components.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the components each include a computer readable data storage medium.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the security breach includes detecting a loss of air pressure in the sealed device.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism includes an element for physically contacting the component.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the element is comprised of a specified hardened material to disable the component.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the element is formed in a specified shape to enhance disablement of the component.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism includes a biased element for disabling the component.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism includes a coiled spring for enabling disablement of the component, the coiled spring being biased open such that activation of the mechanism releases potential energy of the coiled spring.
16. An apparatus for physically incapacitating data storage functionality of a computer data storage device for preventing access of data stored on the device, which comprises:
a sealed device which defines an inner chamber housing a component communicable with a computer, and digital data being storable on the component;
a mechanism communicating with the inner chamber, the mechanism physically disabling the component in the device in response to being activated by a security event, the mechanism being activatable by a computer communicable with the mechanism for rendering the sealed device inoperable, and the security breach of the sealed device includes a physical event to the sealed device; and
an element of the mechanism being in spaced relation with the component and positionable to physically contact the component, in response to the activation of the mechanism, incapacitating the component to render digital data stored on the component unretrievable by a computer.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the mechanism is positioned in the sealed device in a biased state to physically contact the component using the element; and
the mechanism is released to an unbiased state to incapacitate the component using the element in response to the activation of the mechanism.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising:
the computer being communicable with the mechanism to receive an authorized activation instruction of a protocol sent by a user; and
in response to the receiving of the authorized activation instruction, the mechanism being activated for physically incapacitating the component in the device.
19. A system for physically incapacitating data storage functionality of a computer data storage device for preventing access of data stored on the device, which comprises:
a sealed device which defines an inner chamber housing a component communicable with a computer, and digital data being storable on the component;
a mechanism communicating with the inner chamber, the mechanism physically disabling the component in the device in response to being activated by a security event, the mechanism being activatable by a computer communicable with the mechanism for rendering the sealed device inoperable, and the security breach of the sealed device includes a physical event to the sealed device; and
an element of the mechanism being in spaced relation with the component and positionable to physically contact the component, in response to the activation of the mechanism, incapacitating the component to render digital data stored on the component unretrievable by a computer.
20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:
the computer being communicable with the mechanism to receive an authorized activation instruction of a protocol sent by a user; and
in response to the receiving of the authorized activation instruction, the mechanism being activated for physically incapacitating the component in the device.