A method and apparatus for providing password security to an electronic device. Access rights to an electronic device are determined by decrypting and decoding an encrypted password given to one or more individuals. When an individual enters a given encrypted password into the electronic device, a decrypting function decrypts the password to generate a decrypted password. The decrypted password contains information as to whether access should be granted to the individual, and if so, to what extent. For example, the decrypted password may comprise a numerical value and access is granted if the numerical value is less than or greater than a predetermined value, or if the numerical value is within a predetermined range.