Semiconductor memory device

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprising:

• at least one memory block made of a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells;
• and
• a password protection function in which data cannot be read out from a part of the memory block or the entire memory block without a cancel operation using a password, wherein
• the password protection function is enabled or disabled based on a first and second state specified values such that when both of the first and second state specified values are in a set state, the password protection function is enabled and when at least the second specified value is in a reset state, the password protection function is disabled, and
• the first state specified value maintains a previous state and the second state specified value follows the state of the first state specified value in response to a predetermined operation of the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, and
• the cancel operation to shift the second state specified value to the reset state can be performed only when the password is inputted correctly.