Systems and methods for enhanced electronic asset protection

Abstract

Systems and methods for enhanced electronic asset protection are described. One aspect of one described embodiment includes receiving an indication to activate asset protection, the client device having a local data store; and activating asset protection in response to the indication, wherein asset protection comprises disabling the local data store and disabling the client device. In another embodiment, a computer-readable medium (such as, for example random access memory or a computer disk) includes code for carrying out such a method.

1 . A method comprising: 
 receiving an indication to activate asset protection on a client device, the client device having a local data store; and    activating asset protection in response to receiving the indication to activate the asset protection module, wherein asset protection comprises disabling the local data store and disabling the client device.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling the local data store comprises encrypting the local data store.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling the local data store comprises permanently deleting contents stored on the local data store.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the local data store comprises a magnetic drive.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the local data store comprises an optical drive.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the local data store comprises a random access memory.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling the client device comprises block network access from the client device.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling the client device comprises blocking execution of an application on the client device.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling the client device comprises blocking input/output port access on the client device.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disabling the client device comprises: 
 verifying that no indication to recover the client device has been received; and    shutting down the client device.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving an indication to recover the client device;    enabling the local data store; and    enabling the client device.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving an indication to recover the client device comprises receiving the indication from a remote device.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein enabling the local data store comprises decrypting the local data store.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving an indication to activate asset protection on a client device comprises receiving an out-of-band communication.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the out-of-band communication comprises an SMS message.  
   
   
       16 . A computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, the program code comprising: 
 program code for receiving an indication to activate asset protection on a client device, the client device having a local data store; and    program code for activating asset protection in response to receiving the indication to active the asset protection module, wherein asset protection comprises disabling the local data store and disabling the client device.    
   
   
       17 . A system comprising: 
 a communications receiver operable to receive an indication to activate asset protection on a client device, the client device having a local data store; and    a security agent in communication with the communications receiver and operable to receive the indication to activate the asset protection module form the communications receiver, and in response disable the local data store and disable the client device.