1. A method of controlling access to variables by a debugger during a debug session, the method comprising: monitoring, during the debug session, attempts by the debugger to access a variable, an alias masking confidential information contained in the variable; identifying, during the debug session, an attempt for an access of the variable, the access of the variable applying an operator to the variable; identifying a rule associated with the variable, the rule associating accesses that apply the operator with a threshold; determining that an access count is below the threshold, the access count of the accesses that apply the operator to the variable; incrementing the access count based on the allowing the access of the variable; allowing the access of the variable based on the rule; identifying, during the debug session, an attempt for a second access of the variable, the second access of the variable applying the operator to the variable; determining that the access count is not below the threshold; and disallowing the second access of the variable based on the rule.