Patent ID: 8078882

Claim:
A method for identifying sensitive data from a user-entered input sequence based on user-defined criteria, the method comprising: receiving user-defined criteria for identifying sensitive data within user-entered input sequences that include sensitive data and padding data, the user-defined criteria including a feedback rule associating a first feedback type with entry of the sensitive data and a second feedback type with entry of the padding data; presenting a request for sensitive data from a requesting agent; prompting a user with at least one of the first feedback type and the second feedback type; receiving a user-entered input sequence that includes sensitive data and padding data in response to the request for sensitive data; identifying the sensitive data within the user-entered input sequence using the user-defined criteria; and providing the identified sensitive data to the requesting agent in response to the request for sensitive data, wherein at least one of the proceeding actions is performed on at least one electronic hardware component.