Method and apparatus for preventing accidential disclosure of confidential information via visual representation objects

1. A method of preventing accidental disclosure of confidential information via visual representation objects, comprising:

establishing pattern information with respect to confidential information, wherein the confidential information is used to authenticate users;

monitoring a visual representation object having an input focus associated with a user interface, wherein the visual representation object receives input data;

determining whether display of the input data on the visual representation object is obscured;

comparing, via at least one computer processor, the input data with the pattern information to identify at least one unobscured portion of the confidential information when it is determined that the display of the input data is not obscured; and

producing and displaying indicia of detection of the at least one unobscured portion of the confidential information on the visual representation object based on the comparison, the display of the indicia of detection being different from the display of the input data,

wherein comparing the pattern information with the input data further comprises comparing the identified at least one unobscured portion with a whitelist, and

wherein the whitelist comprises approved textual data for the visual representation object.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the establishing the pattern information further comprises determining unique textual data based on statistical data for the confidential information, wherein the unique textual data comprises various portions of the confidential information.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transforming the pattern information and the input data into the indicia of detection.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the establishing the pattern information further comprises comparing the pattern information with a metric for determining effective character strings for identifying the confidential information.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein producing the indicia of detection further comprises blocking communication of the input data to the visual representation object.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein producing the indicia of detection further comprises blocking display of characters entered subsequent to the unobscured portions of the confidential information.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the unobscured portions of the confidential information comprise a password prefix.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein producing the indicia of detection further comprises permitting communication of the input data when the visual representation object comprises a password control.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the pattern information with the input data further comprises examining application software that created the visual representation object with a second whitelist.

10. An apparatus for preventing accidental disclosure of confidential information via visual representation objects, comprising:

an establishment module to generate pattern information with respect to confidential information, wherein the confidential information is used to authenticate users;

a monitoring module to access a visual representation object having an input focus associated with a user interface, wherein the visual representation object receives input data and is displayed on a display unit;

a determination module to determine whether display of the input data on the visual representation object is obscured;

a comparison module, executing in conjunction with at least one memory and computer processor, to examine the input data and the pattern information to identify at least one unobscured portion of the confidential information when it is determined that the display of the input data is not obscured; and

a production module that produces and displays indicia of detection of the at least one unobscured portion of the confidential information on the visual representation object based on the comparison, the display of the indicia of detection being different from the display of the input data,

wherein the comparison module compares the identified at least one unobscured portion with a whitelist, and

wherein the whitelist comprises approved textual data for the visual representation object.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the establishment module determines unique textual data based on statistical data for the confidential information, wherein the unique textual data comprises various portions of the confidential information.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the production module blocks communication of the input data to the visual representation object.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the production module permits communication of the input data when the visual representation object comprises a password control.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the comparison module examines application software that created the visual representation object with a second whitelist.

15. At least one non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium comprising one or more processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:

establish pattern information with respect to confidential information, wherein the confidential information is used to authenticate users;

monitor a visual representation object having an input focus associated with a user interface, wherein the visual representation object receives input data;

determine whether display of the input data on the visual representation object is obscured;

compare the input data with the pattern information to identify at least one unobscured portion of the confidential information when it is determined that the display of the input data is not obscured; and

produce and display indicia of detection of the at least one unobscured portion of the confidential information on the visual representation object based on the comparison, the display of the indicia of detection being different from the display of the input data,

wherein comparing the pattern information with the input data further comprises comparing the identified at least one unobscured portion with a whitelist, and

wherein the whitelist comprises approved textual data for the visual representation object.

16. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium of claim 15 ,

wherein the one or more processor-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

block communication of the input data to the visual representation object.

17. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium of claim 15 ,

wherein the one or more processor-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

permit communication of the input data when the visual representation object comprises a password control.

18. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium of claim 15 ,

wherein the one or more processor-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

examine application software that created the visual representation object with a second whitelist.