# US 2014/0157428 A1 · Preventing malicious observance of private information > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0157428 A1 - Document ID: US20140157428A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/089,051 - Filed: 2013-11-25 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Li Jun Jiang; Rui Lin; Hao Meng Wang; Qin Zhao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140157428A1 ## CPC - G06F 21/60: Protecting data - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - G06F 21/34: involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards - G06F 21/36: by graphic or iconic representation - G06F 21/629: {to features or functions of an application} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A technique for preventing malicious observance of private information includes receiving an instruction of entering a mode of inputting private information; determining a correspondence between actual inputs and expected inputs; receiving an actual user input; and converting the actual input into an expected input as private information inputted by the user according to the correspondence. This security technique can prevent discovery of the private information of a user through observation. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -5. (canceled) ### Claim 6 A computer program product for preventing data exposure, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising a computer usable program code to, present a graphical user interface that presents visible input cues for user input; determine a correspondence between the visible input cues presented via the graphical user interface and input values, wherein each of the visible input cues indicate a value other than the corresponding input value; and in response to selection of any one of the visible input cues via the graphical user interface, determine the input value that corresponds to the selected visible input cue; generate at least one of an audio output and a tactile output that indicates the corresponding input value instead of visually presenting the corresponding input value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer usable program code to present the graphical user interface that presents visible input cues comprises computer usable program code to present the visible input cues in a circle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer usable program code to present the graphical user interface that presents visible input cues comprises computer usable program code to present a plurality of input fields for displaying expected input values and a pair of the visible input cues flanking each of the input fields, wherein the visible input cues indicate a different direction for selecting user input relative to the flanked input field. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer usable program code comprises computer usable program code to initially populate the input fields with random values that are not private information. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer usable program code further comprises computer usable program code to pass input values corresponding to a series of selected visible input cues to an application after a submit visual input cue is selected. ### Claim 11 The computer program product of clam 6, wherein the computer usable program code to determine the input value that corresponds to the selected visible input cue comprises computer usable program code to convert a first value, which the selected visible input cue indicates, to a second value that is the corresponding input value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer usable program code to convert the first value to the second value comprises computer usable program code to apply a conversion formula to the first value, wherein the conversion formula was pre-selected. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer usable program code further comprises computer usable program code to automatically select a conversion formula and generate a notification of the automatically selected conversion formula prior to a determination of the input value that corresponds to the selected visible input cue, wherein the computer usable program code to convert the first value to the second value comprises the computer usable program code to apply the automatically selected conversion formula to the first value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer usable program code further comprises computer usable program code to verify that an earphone is connected to an interface of a device that presents the graphical user interface, wherein the audio output is output via the interface connected to the earphone instead of other output devices. ### Claim 15 An apparatus comprising: a processor; an audio output interface; a display; and a computer readable storage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to, present on the display a graphical user interface that presents visible input cues for user input; determine a correspondence between the visible input cues presented via the graphical user interface and input values, wherein each of the visible input cues indicate a value other than the corresponding input value; and in response to selection of any one of the visible input cues via the graphical user interface, determine the input value that corresponds to the selected visible input cue; generate at least one of an audio output and a tactile output that indicates the corresponding input value instead of visually presenting the corresponding input value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the computer usable program code executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to present the graphical user interface that presents visible input cues comprises computer usable program code to present the visible input cues in a circle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the computer usable program code executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to present the graphical user interface that presents visible input cues comprises computer usable program code executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to present a plurality of input fields for displaying expected input values and a pair of the visible input cues flanking each of the input fields, wherein the visible input cues indicate a different direction for selecting user input relative to the flanked input field. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the computer usable program code comprises computer usable program code executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to initially populate the input fields with random values that are not private information. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the computer usable program code further comprises computer usable program code executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to pass input values corresponding to a series of selected visible input cues to an application after a submit visual input cue is selected. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the computer usable program code further comprises computer usable program code executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to verify that an earphone is connected to the audio output interface, wherein the audio output is output via the audio output interface connected to the earphone instead of other output components of the apparatus.