US Patent 7669060 Data processing apparatus

In a data processing apparatus which performs an output process and a protection process on data stored in a data storage section, and executes user verification when verification data to be used in verification at a time of accepting setting about the protection process is stored in a verification data storage section, execution of a data protection process is permitted or inhibited according to whether the verification data is stored in the verification data storage section or not. As the protection process is executed when user verification is carried out, the security on data protection is kept at a high level.