A method for securing passwords, personal identification numbers and identifying
patterns utilizes a MasterCode camouflaged within a grid which contains all the
characters, symbols or pictograms of which the MasterCode is a subset. For securing
numeric sequences, the MasterCode is comprised of ten characters randomly associated
to a corresponding digit (including zero). The characters thereby associated with
each numeric password are expanded into an ordinary, natural language word, a SecureWord
using non-associated letters. The MasterCode is masked by its unique placement
in a MasterGrid known only to the user. For securing passwords comprised of alpha
numeric symbolic characters, each unique character, the MasterCode, is assigned
a sequential number which becomes a sequence of positions in the MasterGrid with
each MasterCode character placed in the appropriate position and the remainder
of the character set filled in. SecureNumbers are the positions in the MasterGrid
of each character in a password. For securing patterns, a MasterGrid containing
a set of pictograms is chosen from an offered array of such sets. The user then
makes a pattern in the MasterGrid, his MasterCode. To gain access, the user must
identify his MasterGrid from an array of similar grids and correctly recreate his
pattern. Apparati for implementing the method are also described.