A method begins or continues with deleting a security code from random access memory (RAM) of a computing device when the computing device is inactive. The security code is required for functionality of the computing device and is stored in the RAM. The method continues with detecting a reactivation request. In response to the reactivation request, the method continues with obtaining authentication data from an activation requester, generating a set of blinded random numbers, and requesting a plurality of encoded data slices from a plurality of other devices. The method continues with performing a sequence of operations on the plurality of encoded data slices using the authentication data and the set of blinded random numbers to produce a recovered security code. When the recovered security code is verified, the method continues with storing the recovered security code as the security code in RAM and activating operation of the computing device.