US Patent 7783898 Encryption/decryption of stored data using non-accessible, unique encryption key

Encryption and decryption of data stored from a computing system to a storage medium is disclosed wherein the processing employs a non-accessible encryption key that is unique to the computing system. The unique encryption key can be embedded in non-removable hardware of the computing system or generated, e.g., from identification numbers ascertained from non-removable hardware of the computing system. Processing includes establishing the unique encryption key, encrypting data using the unique encryption key and storing the encrypted data to the storage medium without storing the unique encryption key on the storage medium. The storage medium can comprise any non-removable or removable storage medium, including for example a computer hard drive, floppy diskette, or recordable compact disk.