JPH11161608A - Password input managing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure surer security by displaying a unique password input picture obtained by camouflaging a previously edited and set password input picture so as to reduce a risk that protect by a password would be broken by another person. SOLUTION: In the operation of an information processor provident with a password input managing device and consisting of a microcomputer 1, an external storage device 5, a key input device 6, etc., the unique password input picture obtained by camouflaging password input is edited in stead of a normal password input picture and data on the edited unique input picture are set in a storing means. At the time of starting an information processor next, the set unique password input picture is displayed and the password is inputted in its displaying state. Then, when an inputting password coincides with a registered password, the protect by the password is released to permit the substantial operation of the information processor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a workstation, which manages the input of a password (personal identification number) for specifying a user for security and permitting use of the apparatus for security. The present invention relates to a password input management device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an information processing apparatus that may be used by a plurality of users or an unspecified user, the information processing apparatus is used before the information processing apparatus is substantially operated in order to ensure user security. First enter the password,
A security system configured to release protection by a password and allow a substantial operation of an information processing apparatus only when the input password is the same as a previously registered password is widely used.

If the arrangement of the password input keys and the arrangement of the numerical values are fixed in a one-to-one relationship, there is a risk that others may steal the password. In other words, if the numeric keypad is arranged in an orderly manner like "0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9", and if this state is always fixed,
There is a possibility that the approximate numeric sequence of the password may be known by simply looking at the movement of the hand when a user is inputting the password from behind. For example, if your hand moves
Assuming that "left end → right end → center → near left end", imagine that the password is “0952” or “186”.
It is relatively easy to estimate as "2", and the password may be stolen by a small number of trial and error.

As a method of enhancing security in a security system using a password, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
There is a technique disclosed in -189468. According to this method, ten keys for password input are arranged side by side below the lower side of the screen display unit, and a display area of a numerical sequence is set at the lower part of the screen display unit in correspondence with the keys. , 10 of 0-9 in the numerical value column display area
In displaying the numerical values corresponding to the input keys one by one, the arrangement of the numerical values is randomly changed (however, in a state of a circulating numerical sequence in ascending or descending order). For example, “5,
6,7,8,9,0,1,2,3,4 ”or a numerical sequence“ 8,9,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 ” Or "2,3,4,5,6,7,
For example, a numeric string of "8, 9, 0, 1" is displayed every time the user changes. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate the numerical sequence of the password only by the movement of the hand, and the security is improved.

[0005]

However, even in the password input management device of the above-mentioned publication, when inputting the password, a screen requesting the password input is displayed, for example, "Please input the password". However, it is obvious to everyone that the screen is for the user to enter the password, and there is still a risk that the password can be broken by others.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a password input screen is provided with a camouflage screen that can be known only to each user personally. It is an object of the present invention to provide a password input management device in which the risk of being broken by others can be greatly reduced and more secure security can be ensured.

[0007]

The password input management device according to the first aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, during the substantial operation of the information processing device,
Drive the password input screen editing means, edit the original password input screen that camouflages the password input instead of the normal password input screen that prompts the password input as the password input screen, and edit the original password input screen The data is set in the storage means. Next, when starting up the information processing apparatus, the original password input screen set above is displayed, and the password is input in the display state, and when the input password matches the registered password, the protection by the password is released. The information processing apparatus is configured to permit a substantial operation. The unique camouflage password input screen is known as a screen for entering a password to the user who set the unique password input screen, but it is not understood by a third party as the password input screen, This greatly reduces the risk of breaking the password protection and ensures more secure security.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the password input management device according to the first aspect, when a unique password input screen is set, a new password is registered corresponding to the unique password input screen. It is like that. Even if the password corresponding to the normal password input screen is known to a third party, as long as the new password is kept confidential, on the original password input screen that camouflages the password input, The risk of breaking the protection by is further reduced, and more secure security is ensured.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a password input management device according to the first or second aspect, wherein a system error display screen is editable as a unique password input screen obtained by camouflaging the password input. is there. For a third party who does not know that this system error display screen is a unique password input screen, this system error display screen can be literally recognized only as a system error display screen, and it is unlikely that it is a password input screen. No security is ensured.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a password input management device according to the first or second aspect, wherein a display screen for prompting an item check can be edited as a unique password input screen obtained by camouflaging the password input. It is. For a third party who does not know that this item check screen is an original password input screen, this item check screen can be literally recognized only as an item check screen, and it can not be thought of as a password input screen. Security is ensured.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the password input management device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the item check screen is edited and displayed as a unique password input screen obtained by camouflaging the password input. When the check order of the item order matches the order of the code string of the registered password, the protection by the password is released. Even if the intuition of the third party is sharp and it is imagined that the camouflaged item check screen is a password input screen, it is unlikely that the check order of the item order to be checked is a password, so the system Security is ensured.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the password input management device according to the first or second aspect, the item check screen is edited and displayed as a unique password input screen obtained by camouflaging the password input. When the pattern of the item to be registered matches the pattern of the registered password, the password protection is released. Even if the third party's intuition comes to mind and the camouflaged item check screen is supposed to be a password input screen, it is unlikely that the pattern of the item to be checked is a password. Is secured.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the password input management device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer provided with a password input management device according to a first embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a microcomputer which forms the heart of an information processing apparatus, 2 denotes a CPU (central processing unit) which controls the entire system, and 3 denotes a ROM (read only) which stores a program for the control. Memory) 4 is an R for assisting control and storing data.
AM (random access memory), 5 is an external storage device such as a hard disk device, 6 is a key input device using a keyboard, 7 is a pointing device such as a mouse, 8
Denotes a display control unit, 9 denotes a CRT or liquid crystal display (LC
D).

Next, the operation of the password input management device in the information processing apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the CPU 2 of the microcomputer 1 reaches a password-protected routine, it determines in step S11 whether or not a password input screen unique to each user has been set. The process proceeds to S12, and if it has been set, the process proceeds to step S15. When proceeding to step S12, the CPU 2 reads out the display data from the ROM 3 and displays a normal password input screen 10 as shown in FIG. The normal password input screen 10 is a general screen that any user can understand that the user is requesting the input of the password. For example, "Please input the password."
Message display 10a, display of a password display area 10b in which a password input state is displayed, display of a cursor 10c in the password display area 10b, display of an OK key 10d by a tablet, and a cancel key 10.
e is displayed.

When starting a required program, the user of the information processing apparatus first releases a password-protected state by inputting a pre-registered password from the key input device 6 to substantially use the information processing apparatus. Must be set to a possible state. CPU2
Accepts the input of the password from the key input device 6 in step S13. Even if the password is input, the input password is not displayed in the password display area 10b, and only the cursor 10c moves. This is also for security. The operations of the OK key 10d and the cancel key 10e are omitted. Step S14
The CPU 2 compares the password input from the key input device 6 with a registered password stored in the external storage device 5 in advance, and determines whether the two passwords match. If the two passwords match, the process proceeds to the next step S18, in which the protection by the password is released and the substantial operation of the information processing apparatus is permitted. If the two passwords do not match, the process returns to step S12 and proceeds to step S18. Refuse to do that.
The user will be required to input the password again. If you mistype the password by mistake, enter the correct password carefully,
If the input password matches the registered password, step S
You can proceed to 18. It is assumed that the password registered in advance is, for example, “1104”. When the input password is "1104", the protection by the password is released and the substantial operation of the information processing apparatus is enabled. However, when the input password is other than the password, the protection by the password is not released and the substantial operation of the information processing apparatus is not performed. Will be rejected. In other words, no matter how many times a malicious user, such as a malicious user who does not know the legitimate password, repeatedly enters the password, unless the password is accidentally matched, the entered password is not legitimate. As a result, it is impossible to proceed to the substantial operation of the information processing apparatus. That is, the protection routine of the information processing device cannot be used. As a result, general security of the protection routine for using the information processing device is ensured. The password includes a code string of numbers, alphabets, and symbols, or a code string of a combination thereof.

In step S18, after the substantial operation of the information processing apparatus is permitted, in step S19, the user selects whether to set his or her own password input screen. Step S2 if you choose not to set
The process proceeds to step S20 to execute the processing programmed as the information processing apparatus. If the user selects to set a unique password input screen, the process proceeds to step S20 and the CPU 2
The password input screen editing means creates and edits a unique password input screen to be displayed at the time of a password input request, and is different from the normal password input screen 10 shown in FIG. A mode for displaying the password input screen 20 is set. The password input screen editing means of the CPU 2 has a function of, for example, importing and editing data of another screen and creating new image data, and has an effect on a password input operation and a determination function itself. Absent. The edited data of the unique password input screen 20 is stored in the external storage device 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the user's own password input screen 20 is, for example, a message display 20a of "system error", an operation display 20b of "return", and a "next".
Operation display 20c, "retry" operation display 20d, OK
The display of the key 20e and the display of the cancel key 20f are performed. The user's unique password input screen 20 having the message "System error." Is known to be a unique password input screen for a user who has set the unique password input screen. To a third party such as a malicious user who does not know the error message, it should be recognized only as an error message screen. That is, the user-specific password input screen 20 is a camouflage screen for inputting a password. The design of the user-specific password input screen 20 can be arbitrarily created and edited in step S20 as desired by the user. In this creation / edit, the design is displayed on the display unit 9 each time, so that the design can be created / edited while checking the design. In step S21, a password corresponding to the unique password input screen 20 is newly registered. The operation is performed by input from the key input device 6, and the new registration password is stored in the external storage device 5. Note that the newly registered password may be the same as the original password, or may be different.
Passwords to be newly registered can be numbers, alphabets,
There is a code string of symbols or a code string of a combination thereof. Subsequent to step S21, the process proceeds to step S22, in which a programmed process as an information processing device is executed.

As described above, if the display mode of the password input screen 20 unique to each user, which is a camouflage screen for password input, is edited and set, the next time the information processing apparatus is to be used, Instead of the normal password input screen 10 of FIG. 3, an "error message screen" shown in FIG. 4 is displayed with a password input screen 20 unique to each user camouflaged. That is, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the password input screen unique to each user has been set, and it is determined that the password input screen 20 has been set.
Is displayed on the display unit 9 as shown in FIG. At this time, for an authorized user who has created and edited a unique password input screen 20 in advance and set the mode, the screen that reports a “system error” is an “error message screen”.
In fact, it is actually a camouflage unique password input screen, and it is known that it is a screen requesting password input, so even if the screen display state as shown in FIG. The password newly registered for the unique password input screen 20 is input from the key input device 6. The CPU 2 executes step S
At 16, the input of the password from the key input device 6 is accepted. An authorized user inputs an authorized password from the key input device 6 even in the display state of FIG.

In step S16, the CPU 2 accepting the input of the password compares the password input from the key input device 6 with the password newly registered in the external storage device 5 in step S17, and the two passwords match. A determination is made as to whether the If the two passwords do not match, the process returns to step S15 to request the password again. If the two passwords match, the process proceeds to the next step S18, in which the protection by the password is released and the substantial operation of the information processing apparatus is started. To give permission. When a new password is registered, for example, as “4011” corresponding to the unique password input screen 20, the substantial operation of the information processing apparatus is performed only when the password is input from the key input device 6 as “4011”. Allowed.

For a third party such as an unauthorized user, the screen shown in FIG. 4 is an "error message screen" indicating a "system error". Therefore, almost no password input operation is performed, and another operation is performed. It should give up the use of the information processing device without performing any operation. As a result, special security for use of the information processing device is ensured. Even if the screen of FIG. 4 is found to be an original password input screen, the user does not know the formal password, so the determination in step S17 is negative, and the process returns to step S15. As a result, the state of displaying the screen of FIG. 4 continues, so that the unauthorized user gives up using the information processing apparatus.

An authorized user inputs a password on the camouflaged user's own password input screen 20 shown in FIG. 4, and the password determination becomes affirmative. In step S18, the protection by the password is released, and the information processing apparatus is reset. When the substantial operation is permitted, the user selects again to set his or her own password input screen in step S19, changes the design of the original password input screen in step S20, and inputs the original password. It is also possible to register a new password on the screen in step S21.

FIG. 5 shows functional blocks corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. 2 for reference. 110 is a password input unit, 120 is a control unit, 130 is a display control unit, 140 is a normal password input screen storage unit, 150
Is a registered password storage means, 160 is a password determination means, 170 is an operation lock means, 180 is an operation permission means,
190 is a unique password input screen editing means, 200 is a unique password input screen storage means, and 210 is a newly registered password storage means.

[Second Embodiment] In the password input management device according to the second embodiment, the password input screen editing means of the CPU 2 creates and edits a user-specific password input screen 30 as shown in FIG. It is configured to set a mode for displaying a unique password input screen 30 that prompts an item check as a camouflaged screen for password input.

In the case of the second embodiment, the user's own password input screen 30 includes, for example, a message display 30a of "Please check necessary items.", A display 30b of "item 1," and a check of item 1. Area 30b ₁ display, “item 2” display 30c, item 2 check area 30c ₁ display, “item 3” display 30d, item 3 check area 30d ₁ display, OK key 30e display A cancel key 30f is displayed. The user's unique password input screen 30 having the message "Please check the necessary items." Is known to be a unique password input screen for a user who has set the unique password input screen. A malicious user who does not know the legitimate password should be recognized only as an item check screen. That is, the user-specific password input screen 30 is a camouflage screen for password input. The design of the password input screen 30 unique to the user can be arbitrarily created and edited as desired by the user. At the time of this creation / editing, the design of each time is displayed on the display unit 9.
You can create and edit while checking the design.

As described above, if the display mode of the password input screen 30 unique to each user, which is the camouflage screen for password input, is edited and set, the next time the information processing apparatus is used, Instead of the normal password input screen 10 shown in FIG. 3, a "password check screen" shown in FIG. 6 displays a password input screen 30 unique to each user camouflaged. That is, in step S11, it is determined that the password input screen of each user is already set by determining whether the password input screen of each user is already set, and the process proceeds to step S15, where the password input screen 30 of the individual user edited earlier is set.
Is displayed on the display unit 9 as shown in FIG. At that time, for a legitimate user who has created and edited a unique password input screen 30 in advance and set the mode, the screen that tells "check necessary information" is not a "check screen" but is a unique camouflage screen. Since it is known that the password input screen is a screen for requesting the input of a password, even if the screen is displayed as shown in FIG. You will need to enter a password for the screen. The CPU 2 receives the input of the password in step S16. It is assumed that “9081” is registered as a new password, for example. The legitimate user, regardless of the screen display of "Required check" in Fig. 6,
The password “9081” is input from the key input device 6. Thereby, the determination in step S17 becomes affirmative, and the process proceeds to step S18, in which the protection by the password is released and the substantial operation of the information processing apparatus is permitted. It should be noted that the numbers “1”, “2”, and “3” of the items have no relation to the password unlike the third and fourth embodiments described later.

For a third party such as an unauthorized user, the screen shown in FIG. 6 is a screen telling "check required items", so that the user is not aware that this screen is a password input screen, and almost certainly does not operate the password input operation. Instead, the item check operation will be performed by clicking the pointing device (mouse) 7. A click on the mouse would normally give a check to only one item. For example, a pointing device (mouse) against the approval region 30b ₁ Item 1 7 7
And it gave a check operation 30b ₂ by the click. The check operation is accepted, and a check mark is displayed in the check area. However, no further processing is performed. It might give the check operation to check region 30d ₁ of the unauthorized users such as third party then item 3, but made Similarly, any processing. Even if the cancel key 40h is operated, only the display of the check mark is formed. Password protection is not removed. Therefore, a third party such as an unauthorized user should give up the use of the information processing device.
As a result, special security for use of the information processing device is ensured.

The operation flow is the same as the flow chart shown in FIG.

[Third Embodiment] In the password input management device according to the third embodiment, the password input screen editing means of the CPU 2 creates and edits a user-specific password input screen 40 as shown in FIG. A mode for displaying a unique password input screen 40 when a password is input is set, and the password input is configured to be associated with the input of the item number.

In the case of the third embodiment, the user's own password input screen 40 includes, for example, a message display 40a of "Please check necessary items", a display 40b of "item 1", and a check of item 1. display region 40b _1, the display 40c of the "item 2", the display of the check area 40c ₁ of item 2, "item 3" display 40d of the display of the approval region 40d ₁ for items 3, display "item 4" 40e, check area 40 for item 4
Display of e _1, display 40f of "item 5", the display of the check area 40f ₁ for item 5, the display of the display and cancel key 40h of the OK key 40g have been made.
This user's unique password input screen 4 with the message "Please check the required items" 40a
0 is known to be a unique password entry screen for a user who has set a unique password entry screen, but is only recognized as an item check screen for a third party such as a malicious user who does not know the regular password. Should not be done. Further, the item number corresponds to the password of the password. Assuming that the password newly registered for the unique password input screen 40 is, for example, “24153”, the operation of the password input is “item 2” →
Checking in the order of “item 4” → “item 1” → “item 5” → “item 3” is an input of a correct password. That is, the user-specific password input screen 40 is a camouflage screen for inputting a password. The design of the password input screen 40 unique to the user can be arbitrarily created and edited as desired by the user. At the time of this creation / editing, the design of each time is displayed on the display unit 9.
You can create and edit while checking the design.

As described above, if the display mode of the password input screen 40 unique to each user, which is a camouflage screen for password input, is edited and set, the next time the information processing apparatus is to be used, Instead of the normal password input screen 10 shown in FIG. 3, a "password check screen" shown in FIG. 8 is displayed with a password input screen 40 unique to each user camouflaged. That is, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the password input screen unique to each user has been set, and it is determined that the password input screen 40 has been set.
Is displayed on the display unit 9 as shown in FIG. At this time, for a legitimate user who has created and edited a unique password input screen 40 in advance and set the mode, the screen that tells "check necessary items" is not a "check screen" but rather a unique camouflage unique screen Since it is known that the password input screen is a screen for requesting the input of the password, even if the screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 8, the user can click the pointing device (mouse) 7 without hesitation. You will have to enter your password by checking the items. The password determination unit 3 receives the input of the password in step S16. For a third party such as an unauthorized user, the screen shown in FIG. 8 is a screen telling "check required items", so that the user will almost certainly perform the item check operation without performing the password input operation.

Some examples of the case where the item number corresponds to the password of the password will be described. For example, assuming that the password is “52314”, it is a correct password to check “item 5” → “item 2” → “item 3” → “item 1” → “item 4” in the order of the password input operation. Input. The password may be four digits. Assuming that the password is “2415”, the operation for inputting the password is “item 2” → “item 4” → “item 1”
→ Checking in the order of “item 5” will result in inputting the correct password. The password may be three digits. Assuming that the password is “523”, the correct password input is to check “item 5” → “item 2” → “item 3” in the order of the password input operation.
The same item may be used more than once. If the password is "24
23 ", the password input operation
It is possible to check in the order of “item 2” → “item 4” → “item 2” → “item 3”.
If "1", the password input operation
It is possible to check in the order of “item 3” → “item 1” → “item 3” → “item 1”.
5 ”, the password input operation
Checking in the order of “item 5” → “item 4” → “item 5” → “item 5” is the input of a correct password. In other words, in this embodiment, the numerical sequence (code sequence) of the password is the numerical sequence (code sequence) of the item number.
It corresponds to.

The third party, such as an unauthorized user, who sees the screen of "check required items" in FIG. 8 does not realize that this screen is a password input screen. It should give a check operation. However, no processing is performed. A third party such as an unauthorized user may give a check operation to another item, but no processing is performed similarly. Nothing happens when the cancel key 40h is operated. Therefore, the unauthorized user should give up the use of the information processing device. As a result, special security for use of the information processing device is ensured.

The operation flow is the same as the flow chart shown in FIG.

[Fourth Embodiment] In the password input management device according to the fourth embodiment, the password input screen editing means of the CPU 2 creates and edits a user-specific password input screen 50 as shown in FIG. A mode for displaying a unique password input screen 50 at the time of inputting a password is set, and is configured to be associated with a pattern of an item number for which a password is checked.

In the case of the fourth embodiment, the user's own password input screen 50 includes, for example, a message display 50a of "Please check necessary items", a display 50b of "item 1", and a check of item 1. display region 50b _1, the display 50c of the "item 2", the display of the check area 50c ₁ of item 2, "item 3" display 50d of the display of the approval region 50d ₁ for items 3, display "item 4" 50e, check area 50 for item 4
Display of e _1, "item 5" display 50f, the display of the check area 50f ₁ for item 5, a display of "item 6" 50
g, the display of the check area 50g ₁ for item 6,
Display 50h of "item 7", the display of the check area 50h ₁ for item 7, display and display of the cancel key 50j of the OK key 50i have been made. The user-specific password input screen 50 having the message "Please check required items" 50a is known to be a unique password input screen for a user who has set the original password input screen. A third party such as a malicious user who does not know the formal password should be recognized only as an item check screen. Further, the pattern of the item number to be checked corresponds to the pattern of the password of the password. For example, if the password is “2357”, an item check is performed as a password input operation. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, “item 2”, “item 3”,
Checking with only the pattern of “item 5” and “item 7” is the input of the correct password. That is, the user-specific password input screen 50 is a camouflage screen for password input.
The design of the user's unique password input screen 50 can be arbitrarily created and edited as desired by the user. In this creation / edit, the design is displayed on the display unit 9 each time, so that the design can be created / edited while checking the design.

As described above, if the display mode of the password input screen 50 unique to each user, which is a camouflage screen for password input, is edited and set, the next time the information processing apparatus is used, Instead of the normal password input screen 10 of FIG. 3, a "password check screen" shown in FIG. 9 is displayed with a password input screen 50 unique to each user camouflaged. That is, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the password input screen unique to each user has been set, and it is determined that the password input screen 50 has been set.
Is displayed on the display unit 9 as shown in FIG. At that time, for a legitimate user who has created and edited a unique password input screen 50 in advance and set the mode, the screen that tells "check necessary items" is not a "check screen" but rather a unique camouflaged original screen. Since it is known that the password input screen is a screen requesting input of a password in a predetermined pattern, the password input unit 2 can be used without being lost even if the screen is displayed as shown in FIG. Will enter your password. The CPU 2 receives the input of the password in step S16. Assuming that the registered password is “2357” as described above, as shown in FIG.
Check operations 50c ₂ , 50d ₂ , 50f ₂ , 5 for check areas corresponding only to “item 5” and “item 7”
It is to become the input of the correct password to check in the pattern of the 0h _2.

In this embodiment, if the pattern of the checked item number matches the pattern of the registered password, it is determined that the password matches. The order of item checking does not matter. Since the pattern of the item number to be checked only needs to correspond to the pattern of the password of the password, even if the newly registered password is “7352” in the check state of FIG.
Even if it is “3527” or “5723”, the protection by the password is released by matching the pattern.

A third party such as an unauthorized user who sees the screen of "check required items" in FIG. 9 does not realize that this screen is a password input screen. It should give a check operation. However, no processing is performed. A third party such as an unauthorized user may give a check operation to another item, but no processing is performed similarly. Nothing happens when the cancel key 50j is operated. Therefore, the unauthorized user should give up the use of the information processing device. As a result, special security for use of the information processing device is ensured.

The operation flow is the same as the flow chart shown in FIG.

[0041]

According to the password input management device of the first aspect of the present invention, when the information processing device is started,
It displays its own password input screen that is camouflaged from the password input screen that has been edited and set in advance, so it is known to the user as a screen for entering a password, but for a third party it is a password input screen. Since it is not known, the danger that the password protection is broken by a third party can be greatly reduced, and reliable security can be ensured.

According to the password input management device of the second aspect of the present invention, even if the password corresponding to the normal password input screen is known to a third party, the new password is kept secret. On the original password input screen in which the password input is camouflaged, the risk that the protection by the password is broken by a third party can be further reduced, and more reliable security can be ensured.

According to the password input management device of the third aspect of the present invention, the system error display screen is displayed as a unique password input screen obtained by camouflaging the password input. For a third party who does not know that the screen is a password input screen, this system error display screen can be literally recognized only as a system error display screen and cannot be thought of as a password input screen. be able to.

According to the password input management device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, a display screen for prompting an item check is displayed as a unique password input screen obtained by camouflaging the password input. For a third party who does not know that this is a password input screen, this item check screen can be literally recognized only as an item check screen, and it is unlikely that it is a password input screen. it can.

According to the password input management device of claim 5 of the present invention, the item check screen is displayed as a unique password input screen in which the password input is camouflaged, and the check order of the item order of the checked items is set as the password. Even if the intuition of the third party is so sharp that the camouflaged item check screen is supposed to be a password input screen, it is unlikely that the check order of the item order to be checked is a password, The security of the system can be assured.

According to the password input management device of claim 6 of the present invention, the item check screen is displayed as a unique password input screen obtained by camouflaging the password input, and the pattern of the checked item is used as the password. Even if the intuition of the third party is sharp and it seems that the camouflaged item check screen is a password input screen, it is unlikely that the pattern of the item to be checked is a password,
The security of the system can be further ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an information processing apparatus including a password input management device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the password input management device of the first embodiment (common to the second to fourth embodiments);

FIG. 3 is a display state diagram of a normal password input screen.

FIG. 4 is a display state diagram in which a system error display screen in the case of the first embodiment is a unique camouflage password input screen;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a display state diagram in which the item check screen in the case of the second embodiment is a unique camouflage password input screen.

FIG. 7 is a display state diagram when a check operation is given to an item check screen as camouflage in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a display state diagram in which the item check screen in the case of the third embodiment is a unique password input screen of camouflage.

FIG. 9 is a display state diagram in which the item check screen in the case of the fourth embodiment is a unique password input screen of camouflage.

FIG. 10 is a display state diagram when an item check is performed as an input password in the case of the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Microcomputer 2 ... CPU 3 ... ROM 4 ... RAM 5 ... External storage device 6 ... Key input device 7 ... Pointing device (mouse) 8 ... Display control part 9 ... Display part 10 ... … Normal password input screen 20… User-specific password input screen (Camouflage on system error display screen) 30… User-specific password input screen (Camouflage on item check screen) 40… User-specific password input Screen (camouflage on item check screen) 50: User-specific password input screen (camouflage on item check screen) 110: Password input means 120: Control means 130: Display control means 140: Storage of normal password input screen Means 150: Registered password storage means 160: Password Mode determination means 170 operation lock means 180 operation permission means 190 password input screen editing means 200 unique password input screen storage means 210 newly registered password storage means

Claims (6)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A means for editing a unique password input screen obtained by camouflaging a password input in place of a normal password input screen prompting for a password as a password input screen, and means for setting data of the unique password input screen Means to display a unique password entry screen when a unique password entry screen has been set, and password protection when the password entered in the display state of the unique password entry screen matches the registered password For canceling the password and permitting the substantial operation of the information processing apparatus. 2. The password input management device according to claim 1, further comprising means for registering a new password corresponding to the unique password input screen when the unique password input screen is set. 3. The password input management device according to claim 1, wherein a system error display screen can be edited as a unique password input screen obtained by camouflaging the password input. 4. The password input management device according to claim 1, wherein a display screen for prompting an item check can be edited as a unique password input screen obtained by camouflaging the password input. 5. An item check screen is edited and displayed as a unique password input screen obtained by camouflaging the password input, and when the check order of the checked item order matches the code string order of the registered password, password protection is performed. 3. The password input management device according to claim 1, wherein the password input management device is configured to cancel the password. 6. An item check screen is edited and displayed as a unique password input screen in which a password input is camouflaged, and when the pattern of the checked item matches the pattern of the registered password, the password protection is released. The password input management device according to claim 1 or 2, which is configured.