SECURE STORAGE OF TEMPORARY SECRETS

Temporarily sensitive information can be stored in the non-volatile storage of a TPM, from which it can be securely, and irretrievably, deleted. Additionally, information stored in a TPM can secure information stored on communicationally disconnectable storage media such that, when communicationally disconnected, the information stored on such media is inaccessible. A whole volume encryption service key can be protected by a key stored in a TPM and, even if the protector remains accessible, the secure deletion of the key from the TPM prevents unauthorized disclosure of the whole volume encryption service key. Additionally, TPM stored data can be released only when a computing device is in a particular state, as determined by the PCRs. A hibernation image can be encrypted and the key stored with the TPM such that it is released to decrypt the image and restore active computing only if the state has not materially changed during hibernation.