What is one method for identifying unauthorized access to a computer system?

Monitoring log files is a vital method for identifying unauthorized access to a computer system because log files provide detailed records of all activities that take place on a system. This includes user logins, access attempts, system errors, and any changes made to files and configurations. By analyzing these logs, security professionals can detect unusual patterns or unauthorized activities that might indicate a breach or attempted breach.

For instance, if there are multiple failed login attempts from an unusual IP address or access at strange hours, these can be red flags signifying potential unauthorized access. Regularly reviewing and monitoring these log files enables organizations to respond promptly to incidents and take preventive measures against future unauthorized access attempts.

Other options, while potentially relevant in their contexts, do not serve as direct methods for identifying unauthorized access. For example, reviewing financial records pertains more to financial auditing and fraud detection rather than direct identification of unauthorized system access. Implementing user feedback systems is more focused on enhancing user experience and gathering information from users, which does not directly contribute to identifying unauthorized access. Frequent hardware upgrades may improve system performance and security but do not inherently provide methods for detecting unauthorized access.