Abstract: A novel method of dealing with the problem of phishing, pharming, key-logging and man-in-the-middle attacks on internet-based applications which require the submission of valid login credentials, by permitting a user to control access to an internet-based application (3) (such as an internet banking website) by the simple transmission of a command via the internet to allow access to the internet-based application (3) whenever the user wishes to access the application, and by transmitting a command via the internet to deny access to the internet-based application at all other times, to prevent unauthorized access by any unscrupulous parties.

Abstract: Redirection of user entered data to an unauthenticated website (“phishing”) is checked by, at redirection, detecting the presence of data entry fields in a user web page and, if any are present, authenticating the redirection address against lists of approved websites or the redirection web site certificate. If the new address is not authenticated, the user may still opt to be redirected.

Abstract: A novel method of dealing with the problem of phishing, pharming, key-logging and man-in-the-middle attacks on internet-based applications which require the application (3) (such as an internet banking website) by the simple transmission of a command via the internet to allow access to the internet-based application (3) whenever the user wishes to access the application, and by transmitting a command via the internet to deny access to the internet-based application at all other times, to present unauthorized access by any unscrupulous parties.