Abstract: A computer implemented method of providing identification to one of many online services, and a system comprises an interface system and an identifier manager. The interface system is configured to provide a secret identifier to a requesting one of the online services in a session. The secret identifier is received from the identifier manager. The secret identifier is stored in the identifier manager. The session in which the secret identifier is provided to the online service is identified by a session identifier provided from the online service to a device which the online service is to be provided. The session identifier is then provided to the identifier manager. The session identifier is then provided to the interface system. The session identifier is then provided to the online service so that interactions are allocated to the session.

Abstract: In one preferred form of the present invention, show in in FIGS. 1 to 3, there is provided a computer implemented security method (10) comprising: providing users (14) with first virtual machines (12), the first virtual machines (12) for being displayed on first electronic devices (18); and providing the users with virtual keyboards (22), the virtual keyboards (22) for providing user input to control the first virtual machines (12), the virtual keyboards (22) for being displayed on second electronic devices (24) that are different to the first electronic devices (18) to reduce the effectiveness of possible malware loggers on the first electronic devices (18).

Abstract: A computer system (10) for providing virtual computers includes a pool facility (38) for storing a pool (40) of suspended virtual computers (42) based on at least one virtual computer template (44). A provision manager (32) provides a series (46) of virtual computers (18) as a result of a series (50) of system logon requests by a user (54). The provision manager (32) includes an update facility (100), a resume facility (102) and a customization facility (104). The update facility (104) is provided for updating one or each at least one virtual computer template (44). The resume facility (102) is provided for resuming virtual computers from the pool (40) of suspended virtual computers (42) provided by the pool facility (38). The customization facility (104) is provided for customizing virtual computers after being resumed from the pool (40) to provide active virtual computers.

Abstract: Described is a computer system for providing virtual computers. The computer system includes a pool facility for storing a pool of suspended virtual computers based on at least one virtual computer template. The computer system includes a provision manager for ensuring that a series of system logon requests results in the user being provided with a series of virtual computers that reflect applied updates. The provision manager includes an update facility, a resume facility and a customization facility. The update facility regularly applies updates to the virtual computer template to ensure that each virtual computer reflects the updates. The resume facility resumes suspended virtual computers provided by the pool facility. The customization facility customizes each virtual computer for the particular user after the virtual computer is resumed from the pool of suspended virtual computers, the customization including providing the resumed virtual computer with a user data layer.

Abstract: A security device for a local computer, said security device comprising a locked-down system environment that includes a remote-access connector and an authenticator facility. The remote-access connector initiates a remote connection request with a virtual-computer service. The authenticator facility provides first authentication-data to the remote-access connector for ensuring that the security device has permission to be allocated a virtual computer from the virtual-computer service.