Disclosed embodiments relate to a terminal having improved security and a method of releasing a locked state of a terminal. There is provided a terminal, including an input unit configured to receive dragging; a storage unit configured to store a password pattern; a control unit configured to compare the received dragging with the password pattern and release a locked state of the terminal according to the comparison result; and an output unit configured to display at least a part of a user interface including at least two markers arranged in a grid, wherein the user interface includes a first marker and a second marker, and the password pattern includes movement from the first marker to the second marker and movement from the second marker to the first marker.