An inappropriate-access module is incorporated in a computer system along with other computer system modules. The inappropriate-access module is connected to a read address decoder and controlling logic located within various other modules. The inappropriate-access module detects inappropriate read accesses or the occurrence of the inappropriate access during operations performed on related sensitive system resources in accompanying computer system modules. The inappropriate-access module produces an inappropriate-access flag, made available to the rest of the system, which invokes responses in the accompanying modules such as a halt in processing and protective measures for system resources. Additionally, a related logic block is able to detect the inappropriate access and produce an inappropriate-access trigger which causes a halt to processing within the logic block as well as in related system modules.