What should you do before leaving your computer unattended?

Before leaving your computer unattended, the most secure practice is to log off or lock the computer and remove your PIV (Personal Identity Verification) card. This is essential for maintaining the security and confidentiality of sensitive information, particularly in environments dealing with Veterans Affairs or any organization that handles confidential data.

By logging off or locking your computer, you ensure that no unauthorized person can access your account or any documents you were working on. Additionally, removing your PIV card, which is often used for authentication, adds another layer of security, making it more difficult for someone to gain access to your system while you are away.

Other practices, such as leaving your screen displayed or merely minimizing windows, do not adequately safeguard against unauthorized access. These actions can potentially allow someone to view important data or even access your system with minimal effort. Therefore, logging off or locking the computer along with removing your PIV card is the safest action to take before stepping away from your desk.