A method including: receiving a first plurality of randomly-selected logical operations; performing a first decryption of first client credentials stored locally at the client device by inputting cipher code to a decryption algorithm, wherein the decryption algorithm includes the first plurality of randomly-selected logical operations; subsequent to the first decryption of the first client credentials, performing a first authentication of the client-based application with a server, including transferring the first client credentials to the server; after the first authentication, receiving a second plurality of randomly-selected logical operations from a network resource separate from the client device; applying the second plurality of randomly-selected logical operations to the decryption algorithm; and performing a second decryption of the first client credentials stored locally at the client device by inputting the cipher code to the decryption algorithm, wherein the decryption algorithm includes the second plurality of randomly-selected logical operations.