Methods and apparatus support optional user authentication. Whether an authentication, or an enhanced type of authentication, is required before proceeding with a transaction can be determined on a user-by-user basis. Some credit card users subscribe to a service that provides the users with security tokens. Transactions involving these credit cards may require correct entry of a security token code, before the transactions are allowed to proceed. However, other credit card users, i.e., users who have not subscribed to the service, are not required to enter a security token code before their transactions are allowed to proceed.
User Authentication Systems For Remote Computers, Internet Applications And Online Services
A system for authenticating users to a remote computers, networks and applications is provided whereby a user provides a remote system with basic identification, the remote system contacts an authentication server, the authentication system provides the user with one or more graphical challenge interfaces that require a user to select specific locations in one or more graphics to prove his identity, where the user has previously chosen the graphics and specific locations, the graphics and specific locations are stored securely in the authentication server, and successful identification of the preselected locations authenticates the user to the remote computer, networks and/or application.