Host protected area
（重定向自Hidden protected area）
![Creation of an HPA. The diagram shows how a host protected area (HPA) is created.1. IDENTIFY DEVICE returns the true size of the hard drive. READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS returns the true size of the hard drive.2. SET MAX ADDRESS reduces the reported size of the hard drive. READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS returns the true size of the hard drive. An HPA has been created.3. IDENTIFY DEVICE returns the now fake size of the hard drive. READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS returns the true size of the hard drive, the HPA is in existence.](/Images/godic/202501/18/Hpacreate5937.png")
The HPA (an acronym for Host Protected Area and also known as the Hidden Protected Area) is an area of a hard drive or solid-state drive that is not normally visible to an operating system. It was first introduced in the ATA-4 standard CXV (T13) in 2001.