The invention discloses a method for encrypting and/authenticating, comprising the following steps: Sending a request for a first bit combination or character combination as a first sub key (102); storing said first bit combination or character combination in the memory (104); generating a second bit combination or character combination as a second sub key (106), wherein the second bit combination or character combination is a random or pseudo random pattern; and combining said first sub key and second sub key to a key (108); further comprising at least one of the following steps: encrypting the data with the key (110); using the key as an authentication password (112); and a method of decrypting and/or authenticating, comprising the following steps: sending a request for a first bit combination or character combination as a first sub key (202); storing said first bit combination or character combination in the memory (204); repeating the following steps until a key has been verified as valid: generating one by one a second bit combination or character combination as a second sub key (206), wherein the second bit combination or character combination is one by one taken from the set of all possible second sub keys (208); combining said first sub key and second sub key to a key (210); verifying, whether the key is valid (212); if said key has been verified as valid, decrypting the data with the key (214) and/or using the key an authentication password (216).