A communication device (and its related method of operation), when accessing password protected voicemail services, may invoke an enhanced security feature which effectively masks at least the password digit values from being discernible by feedback to the user. This is especially important where portable wireless communication devices may have pre-stored password data for use with automated voicemail access--even in a "locked" mode. Unauthorized possessors of such a device might utilize conventional audible feedback during password transmission to decipher the password value. However, such lack of security is avoided by masking the password data values from the audible and/or visual user feedback, if any.