A personal computer system maintained by an individual as opposed to an organization tends to be a lot easier to manage. The main avenue by which the security of a personal computer is maintained and authorized is via a password and identification management. Some personal computers, like mine, have a two-factor authentication system and a PIN code for faster access (if the computer was access recently within the last 15 minutes). However, these safeguards are still very exploitable if I were to slip up on the internet or gave access to my computer to someone with less than good intentions.

Two-factor authentication tends to be considered a little overkill when it comes to home or personal computer systems, unless you are in a situation where you live near to or with strangers or persons you wouldn’t necessarily trust with your personal belongings (like a new roommate). However, it is a trick I learned from seeing my parents utilize government computers at home. It makes sense to protect your computer from physical intrusion via the incorporation of more than one safeguard. At the very least, it could deter someone if they somehow guessed or made it through the password. I also maintain that the passwords utilized by my computer do not match that of other sites or systems that I have access to via password. That way, should it somehow be compromised, it won’t affect anything else.

Another way by which I maintain the security of the contents of my computer is through the usage of secured external hard drives. If the computer itself is compromised, I can utilize a backup of my files and more sensitive systems via the external hard drive I keep under lock and key at home. That way, should my laptop or home computer be compromised, I can still recover somewhat from the intrusion because of the backups I maintain for an eventuality such as that.