Patent ID: 7367063

Claim:
A method for providing security to a computerized device, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring a configuration state of the computerized device to store: an initial configuration state of the computerized device within a storage location, the initial configuration state relating to an authorized use of the computerized device by the user; a subsequent configuration state within a storage location, the subsequent configuration state relating to a use of the computerized device by an unauthorized user which occurred after the authorized use by the user and includes a detection of an attachment event with respect to at least one peripheral component associated with the computerized device; upon the user seeking to reaccess the computerized device as the step of monitoring is performed, providing a first login query to the user; providing configuration state information to the user in response to receiving a login entry from the first login query, the configuration state information indicating the subsequent configuration state; providing a second login query to the user in response to receiving the login entry from the first login query; comparing the initial configuration state of the computerized device and the subsequent configuration state of the computerized device to detect a variance between the initial configuration state of the computerized device and the subsequent configuration state of the computerized device, the variance relating to the addition of the at least one peripheral component to the computerized device; and storing the configuration state information containing the variance within the storage location.