Hacker News Reader

Here's a simple idea (lacking in specific implementation details, sorry):

- Figure out how to add a text filter between DragonDictate and your system.

- Program the filter to look for a special sequence, e.g. "cipher_mode"

- When in cipher mode, feed characters through a simple cipher. E.g. A -> C, B -> D, etc. No passerby is going to be able to figure out what you're doing.

- When the filter sees "cipher_mode" again then it stops filtering.

View on HN

If a passerby hears you say "cypher mode A Y R cypher mode" to unlock your computer, they might not figure out that your password is CAT, but they will figure out that "cypher mode A Y R cypher mode" unlocks the computer.

Obviously you'd pick a better phrase than "cipher mode".

But you make a good point. I think this approach can still work though.

- Rotate the cipher based on the current day/time, or rotate it based on the previous use.

- You could prime the next password each time you successfully login. So e.g. every time you login, you offer 3 additional letters in "clear mode", but then have to give them back in cipher mode.

I think I'd go with the last one.

The worst part about all this is that it requires custom programming.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com