The invention provides a mechanism for a secure password entry by using cryptographic functions. This mechanism is applicable to the access of computers and programs. Upon a request of a program E a password p is read-in by receiving a program-specific identifier H(E) from the program E, receiving the password p, and generating from at least the program-specific identifier H(E) and the received password p a program-password-specific identifier F(H(E),p). The program-password-specific identifier F(H(E),p) is sent to the program E which then further processes the program-password-specific identifier F(H(E),p).