The processing of the security message of FIG. 2 uniquely is incorporated into the software object program itself FIG. 3 and, as indicated in the description of FIG. 2, is encoded into the individual electronic key 14 which is associated with that software and which is used to "unlock" the operation of that software by any CPU 10 capable of running the software. The manner in which this security message is incorporated into the software and, in conjunction with the software, is incorporated into the individual electronic key 14 used to permit operation of that software in a computer 10 now will be explained. It is necessary to provide information in the software and in the key which may be compared, one with the other, to "unlock" the software for error free operation by the computer 10. This inter-relating of the software and the encoded information in the individual key 14 is best understood by reference to FIG. 3. Prior to merging the security vendor source code, with the specific application or software vendor source code the software vendor selects a maximum of ten error free application programs for inclusion of the security check point phases. The selected programs, within the software system, may be randomly chosen for the purpose of determining the strategic placement of the six security check point phases (I through V) illustrated in FIG. 3.