A multi-tiered authentication computer system comprising: a first processor; a read only memory chip storing data including a first authentication program executable by the first processor; a second processor; a writable memory chip storing data including (i) a portion of an operating system, and (ii) a second authentication program executable by the second processor, said portion of the operating system being necessary to execute the second authentication program; and a mass data storage device for storing data; wherein: upon startup of the computer system, the first processor executes the first authentication program, the first authentication program determines whether at least a portion of the data stored on the writable memory chip is authentic, the first authentication program causes the second processor to execute the second authentication program only when the determination by the first authentication program is affirmative; and upon execution of the second authentication program by the second processor, the second authentication program determines whether at least a portion of the data stored on the mass data storage device is authentic, the second authentication program permits authenticated use of the portion of data stored on the mass data storage device only when the determination by the second authentication program is affirmative. a first processor; a read only memory chip storing data including a first authentication program executable by the first processor; a second processor; a writable memory chip storing data including (i) a portion of an operating system, and (ii) a second authentication program executable by the second processor, said portion of the operating system being necessary to execute the second authentication program; and a mass data storage device for storing data; wherein: upon startup of the computer system, the first processor executes the first authentication program, the first authentication program determines whether at least a portion of the data stored on the writable memory chip is authentic, the first authentication program causes the second processor to execute the second authentication program only when the determination by the first authentication program is affirmative; and upon execution of the second authentication program by the second processor, the second authentication program determines whether at least a portion of the data stored on the mass data storage device is authentic, the second authentication program permits authenticated use of the portion of data stored on the mass data storage device only when the determination by the second authentication program is affirmative. upon startup of the computer system, the first processor executes the first authentication program, the first authentication program determines whether at least a portion of the data stored on the writable memory chip is authentic, the first authentication program causes the second processor to execute the second authentication program only when the determination by the first authentication program is affirmative; and upon execution of the second authentication program by the second processor, the second authentication program determines whether at least a portion of the data stored on the mass data storage device is authentic, the second authentication program permits authenticated use of the portion of data stored on the mass data storage device only when the determination by the second authentication program is affirmative.