Microprocessor controlled security system for computers

A security system for a network of personal computers linked together by a peripheral data bus, said network including a host computer, comprising, in combination:

• at least one magnetically encodeable card, each card having a data track for encoding input signals permitting access to at least one predetermined components of personal computers in said network;
• a reading and encoding unit for said card adapted for electrically communicating with said host computer of said network;
• means for processing said input signals read by said reading and said encoding unit and for responsively generating component enable and disable signals;
• and
• a peripheral interface circuit for interfacing said means for processing to said peripheral data bus such that said component enable and disable signals are sent to said predetermined components;
• whereby said at least one predetermined components of computers of said network ar enabled in response to a reading of said data track of said card by said reading and encoding unit and disabled in response to a subsequent reading of said data track of said card by said reading and encoding unit.

In a computer system comprising a host computer, peripheral equipment in communication with said host computer, and a magnetic card reading and encoding device placed in communication with said host computer, a method of controlling access to said host computer and said peripheral equipment comprising the steps of:

• a) encoding a magnetically encodeable card with signals for enabling a predetermined component of said computer system;
• b) reading said magnetically encoded card with said magnetic card reading and encoding device when said card is inserted into said reading and encoding device;
• c) enabling said predetermined component if said predetermined component is disabled when said card is read by said reading and encoding device;
• and
• d) disabling said predetermined component if said predetermined component is already enabled when said card is read by said reading and encoding device.