Patent attributes
Methods and apparati for permitting Computing Devices 200 to safely accept Payloads 220 from External Access Entity Devices 260, and to safely access external Networks 710. In an apparatus embodiment, a Computing Device 200 contains an Access Control Module 210 comprising an Access Verification Public Key 211 and a Device Signature Key 214. The Access Control Module 210 is configured to verify authorization of an External Access Payload 220 by verifying a digital signature affixed to the Payload 220 using the Access Verification Public Key 211. The authorized External Access Payload 220 is then permitted to execute on the Computing Device 200. The Access Control Module 210 is also configured to receive from a Network Access Device 600 information associated with a Network 710 access request, and to create a plurality of digital signatures, using the Device Signature Key 214, that link said information associated with the Network 710 access request with the Access Verification Public Key 211. In some embodiments, an encryption/decryption key pair 291, 292 is associated with External Access Entity Device 260 to further enhance security.
