Abstract: An automated method for authenticating a customer with a vendor, the method including the steps of (a) the customer nominating a remote authentication agent, (b) the customer identifying themselves by transmission of customer credentials to the authentication agent via a network connection, (c) the vendor identifying themselves by transmission of vendor credentials to the authentication agent, and (d) the authentication agent providing credentials for the customer to the vendor so that the vendor can perform authentication as a prerequisite to permitting direct communication between the vendor and customer through the network.