(57) The present invention describes a method to identity and display states of the misoperation counter prior to input of a password. The method checks the state of the misoperation counter prior to every new password input. Each scanned state is assigned a defined state, which is signaled visually or acoustically to the user by the chipcard application prior to input of the password. The visual display is preferentially in the form of a traffic light, in which the colors green, amber and red are assigned to a defined state of the misoperation counter. The user of password-protected objects and/or applications is unambiguously informed of the state of the protective device for passwords by means of a clearly presented display. Especially after the card has been lost and then found again, the user can see whether anyone else has attempted to enter a password. Prior to the last chance of entering the correct password the user is clearly warned, and can check the input device again carefully before input.