A host protected area (HPA) is a hidden space of memory on a hard drive that the operating system cannot see or manipulate. It has various purposes, including assisting with startup and recovery operations, storing an operating system, and providing forensic information for security teams. However, hackers can also use the HPA to make rootkit viruses permanent on a computer. It is important to leave the HPA alone to avoid causing issues with the computer’s functionality.
A host protected area (HPA), also known as a hidden protected area, is a small, hidden space of memory on your hard drive. With the exception of special commands or programs, the operating system (OS) will not be able to see, interact with or manipulate the protected area of the host. The HPA has various purposes, some that help you, some that help security agencies, and some that help hackers. Programs known to be HPA-compliant are able to use the HPA during startup, but if the user’s computer does not include compatible programs, the HPA helps everyone but the user.
On all modern computers as of 2011, the primary storage area is the hard drive component. Most of the memory on this hardware is free and open, allowing users to store a number of files. There’s a private section, called the host’s secure area, which stores a stripped-down version of everything that passes through it. It’s like an advanced cache, except the information stays in the HPA much longer.
For the user, the protected area of the host helps during startup and recovery operations. If the user has an HPA-compliant basic input/output system (BIOS), the BIOS can use the HPA to assist in starting the computer and for diagnostic purposes. Some computer manufacturers may also store an operating system preloaded on the HPA. When the computer is taken to a repair shop because it has been hacked, the technician usually logs into the HPA to fix the computer.
Government security and law enforcement teams can also access the host’s secure area to see what the user was doing with the computer if they suspected wrongdoing. The HPA contains a version of everything that has entered and exited the computer, so it will show if the user has had or used illegal files or programs. This computer forensic information can be incriminating and helps security teams know if the person is really doing something illegal with his or her computer.
Hackers can also manipulate the protected area of the host to make rootkit viruses permanent on the computer. Normally, if an antivirus program finds a rootkit, a virus that allows access to the victim’s computer, it is eliminated. If the rootkit is hiding in the HPA, antivirus and even anti-rootkit programs may not be able to find it.
The secure area of the host contains sensitive information, such as boot information, so it was designed to be hidden so users don’t accidentally delete the HPA. There are some command lines and special programs that can read and manipulate the HPA, usually to erase information or reduce the size of the HPA. This could have far-reaching effects, like preventing your computer from booting and turning on effectively, so it’s best to leave the HPA alone.
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