A computer system is provided for protecting access to one or more hardware devices with a hardware device password that is invisible to a user, the system comprising a mobile device and the hardware device, the mobile device including: a memory, the memory storing one or more invisible passwords; an application in the memory; a wireless interface for communicating with the hardware device; and a processor coupled to the memory, the application and the wireless interface, the hardware device including: a memory; a wireless interface for communicating with the mobile device; and a processor coupled to the memory and the wireless interface; wherein the processor in the mobile device is configured to receive a hardware device identifier from the processor in the hardware device; wherein the application in the mobile device is configured to select, based upon the hardware device identifier, the invisible password for the hardware device; and the processor in the hardware device is configured to authenticate the application upon receipt of the invisible password.