Patent ID: 8793786

Claim:
One or more computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for alerting a user that an operating system has entered a secure mode, the method comprising: tracking operations of an application that is running on the operating system, wherein the environment status of the operating system is a default mode; determining whether the tracked operations of the application trigger a transition of the environment status from the default mode to the secure mode, wherein, in the secure mode, the application is prohibited from reading inputs to the operating system initiated by a user; transitioning from the default mode to the secure mode upon determining that one or more of the tracked operations of the application trigger the transition to the secure mode; presenting secure input areas on a UI display that, upon receiving one or more expected inputs, allow for unlocking the UI display; and automatically communicating a secure indication from the operating system to an indicator device operably coupled to a computing device supporting the operating system, wherein the indicator device is exclusively controlled by the operating system and only the operating system may manipulate the indicator device, and wherein, upon receiving the indication, the indicator device produces an alert to notify the user the operating system transitioned to the secure mode.