METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING FLASH MEMORY

In a computer system having a processor, a system memory, a flash memory, and a memory controller, a method comprising the steps of loading a flash memory upgrade program containing a new flash memory image and a digital signature into a portion of the system memory; configuring the memory controller to limit the processor to accessing only the flash memory and the portion of the system memory; verifying the flash memory update program using the digital signature; and, updating the flash memory only if the flash memory upgrade program is authentic.