Abstract: A method for generating e-mail messages with increased security includes receiving an e-mail message at a control system. The e-mail message has recipients, a security level, control attributes, and e-mail message contents. Moreover, the method includes verifying the recipients at the control system, and storing the recipients, security level, control attributes, and e-mail message contents in the control system when each of the recipients is verified. Furthermore, the method includes generating modified e-mail messages from the e-mail message, transmitting each of the modified e-mail messages to a respective recipient, and capturing authentication data from one of the recipients when the one recipient indicates a desire to view the e-mail message contents with a communications device operated by the one recipient. When the one recipient is successfully authenticated, the method includes permitting the one recipient to view the e-mail message contents in accordance with the control attributes.

Abstract: A method for improving the security of secret authentication data during authentication transactions is provided that includes converting the secret authentication data of a user into scrambled secret authentication data by associating a different text-string with each item of information included in the secret authentication data. The method also includes capturing the scrambled secret authentication data with a communications device, and conducting an authentication transaction with the captured authentication data.

Abstract: A method for authenticating users is provided that includes indicating, by a user, a desire to conduct a transaction. Moreover, the method includes monitoring, using a terminal device, for devices proximate the terminal device, and determining whether each device included in an authentication data requirement is included in proximate devices detected while monitoring for devices proximate the terminal device. Furthermore, the method includes successfully authenticating the user when each device included in the authentication data requirement is included in the detected proximate devices.

Abstract: A method for accessing e-mail messages from a control system includes requesting access to e-mail message contents of a user stored in the control system, determining whether the user is enrolled in and activated by the control system, and authenticating the user when the user is enrolled in and activated by the control system. Moreover, the method includes permitting the user to view a list of e-mail messages when the user is successfully authenticated. The e-mail messages included in the list are associated with the user. Furthermore, the method includes permitting the user to access the contents of e-mail messages in the list having a security level equal to or less than a security level associated with the successful authentication.

Abstract: A method for improving the security of secret authentication data during authentication transactions is provided that includes converting the secret authentication data of a user into scrambled secret authentication data by associating a different text-string with each item of information included in the secret authentication data. The method also includes capturing the scrambled secret authentication data with a communications device, and conducting an authentication transaction with the captured authentication data.

Abstract: A method for replacing a shared secret over a network is provided that includes determining that a security breach could have occurred, determining that a shared secret of a user is to be replaced, and transmitting a renewal message to an authentication system requesting a new shared secret and an associated effective life for the user. Moreover, the method includes generating a new shared secret and an associated effective life at the authentication system for the user, and replacing the shared secret and associated effective life in an enrollment data record of the user with the new shared secret and associated effective life. Furthermore, the method includes transmitting the new shared secret and associated effective life to a communications device associated with the user, and replacing a shared secret and associated effective life stored in the communications device with the new shared secret and associated effective life.

Abstract: A method for improving the security of secret authentication data during authentication transactions is provided that includes converting the secret authentication data of a user into scrambled secret authentication data by associating a different text-string with each item of information included in the secret authentication data. The method also includes capturing the scrambled secret authentication data with a communications device, and conducting an authentication transaction with the captured authentication data.

Abstract: A method for authenticating users over networks includes requesting a one-time password, entering a personal identification number into a communications device, and retrieving a replaceable shared secret stored in the communications device. Moreover, the method includes generating a hashed personal identification number from the entered personal identification number, combining the hashed personal identification number with the replaceable shared secret to generate a modified shared secret, and generating a one-time password with the modified shared secret and the time of requesting the one-time password.

Abstract: A method for improving the security of secret authentication data during authentication transactions is provided that includes converting the secret authentication data of a user into scrambled secret authentication data by associating a different text-string with each item of information included in the secret authentication data. The method also includes capturing the scrambled secret authentication data with a communications device, and conducting an authentication transaction with the captured authentication data.

Abstract: A method for generating e-mail messages with increased security includes receiving an e-mail message at a control system. The e-mail message has recipients, a security level, control attributes, and e-mail message contents. Moreover, the method includes verifying the recipients at the control system, and storing the recipients, security level, control attributes, and e-mail message contents in the control system when each of the recipients is verified. Furthermore, the method includes generating modified e-mail messages from the e-mail message, transmitting each of the modified e-mail messages to a respective recipient, and capturing authentication data from one of the recipients when the one recipient indicates a desire to view the e-mail message contents with a communications device operated by the one recipient. When the one recipient is successfully authenticated, the method includes permitting the one recipient to view the e-mail message contents in accordance with the control attributes.

Abstract: A method for generating e-mail messages with increased security includes receiving an e-mail message at a control system. The e-mail message has recipients, a security level, control attributes, and e-mail message contents. Moreover, the method includes verifying the recipients at the control system, and storing the recipients, security level, control attributes, and e-mail message contents in the control system when each of the recipients is verified. Furthermore, the method includes generating modified e-mail messages from the e-mail message, transmitting each of the modified e-mail messages to a respective recipient, and capturing authentication data from one of the recipients when the one recipient indicates a desire to view the e-mail message contents with a communications device operated by the one recipient. When the one recipient is successfully authenticated, the method includes permitting the one recipient to view the e-mail message contents in accordance with the control attributes.

Abstract: A method for accessing e-mail messages from a control system includes requesting access to e-mail message contents of a user stored in the control system, determining whether the user is enrolled in and activated by the control system, and authenticating the user when the user is enrolled in and activated by the control system. Moreover, the method includes permitting the user to view a list of e-mail messages when the user is successfully authenticated. The e-mail messages included in the list are associated with the user. Furthermore, the method includes permitting the user to access the contents of e-mail messages in the list having a security level equal to or less than a security level associated with the successful authentication.

Abstract: A method for maintaining the relative position between a data capture device and an operator of the data capture device includes prompting the operator to arrange a data capture device to be in an optimal position relative to an operator of the device. Moreover, the method includes capturing authentication data of the operator with the data capture device while the operator uses data displayed on a screen of the data capture device, and determining whether the data capture device is in the optimal position relative to the operator while capturing authentication data of the operator. Furthermore, the method includes determining a displacement of the data capture device relative to the optimal position when the data capture device is in a position different than the optimal position, and shifting the data relative to the screen by applying the relative displacement to the data.

Abstract: A method for accessing e-mail messages from a control system includes requesting access to e-mail message contents of a user stored in the control system, determining whether the user is enrolled in and activated by the control system, and authenticating the user when the user is enrolled in and activated by the control system. Moreover, the method includes permitting the user to view a list of e-mail messages when the user is successfully authenticated. The e-mail messages included in the list are associated with the user. Furthermore, the method includes permitting the user to access the contents of e-mail messages in the list having a security level equal to or less than a security level associated with the successful authentication.

Abstract: A method for improving the security of secret authentication data during authentication transactions is provided that includes converting the secret authentication data of a user into scrambled secret authentication data by associating a different text-string with each item of information included in the secret authentication data. The method also includes capturing the scrambled secret authentication data with a communications device, and conducting an authentication transaction with the captured authentication data.

Abstract: A method for improving the security of secret authentication data during authentication transactions is provided that includes converting the secret authentication data of a user into scrambled secret authentication data by associating a different text-string with each item of information included in the secret authentication data. The method also includes capturing the scrambled secret authentication data with a communications device, and conducting an authentication transaction with the captured authentication data.

Abstract: A method for improving the security of secret authentication data during authentication transactions is provided that includes converting the secret authentication data of a user into scrambled secret authentication data by associating a different text-string with each item of information included in the secret authentication data. The method also includes capturing the scrambled secret authentication data with a communications device, and conducting an authentication transaction with the captured authentication data.

Abstract: A method for generating e-mail messages with increased security includes receiving an e-mail message at a control system. The e-mail message has recipients, a security level, control attributes, and e-mail message contents. Moreover, the method includes verifying the recipients at the control system, and storing the recipients, security level, control attributes, and e-mail message contents in the control system when each of the recipients is verified. Furthermore, the method includes generating modified e-mail messages from the e-mail message, transmitting each of the modified e-mail messages to a respective recipient, and capturing authentication data from one of the recipients when the one recipient indicates a desire to view the e-mail message contents with a communications device operated by the one recipient. When the one recipient is successfully authenticated, the method includes permitting the one recipient to view the e-mail message contents in accordance with the control attributes.

Abstract: A method for accessing e-mail messages from a control system includes requesting access to e-mail message contents of a user stored in the control system, determining whether the user is enrolled in and activated by the control system, and authenticating the user when the user is enrolled in and activated by the control system. Moreover, the method includes permitting the user to view a list of e-mail messages when the user is successfully authenticated. The e-mail messages included in the list are associated with the user. Furthermore, the method includes permitting the user to access the contents of e-mail messages in the list having a security level equal to or less than a security level associated with the successful authentication.

Abstract: A method for replacing a shared secret over a network is provided that includes determining that a security breach could have occurred, determining that a shared secret of a user is to be replaced, and transmitting a renewal message to an authentication system requesting a new shared secret and an associated effective life for the user. Moreover, the method includes generating a new shared secret and an associated effective life at the authentication system for the user, and replacing the shared secret and associated effective life in an enrollment data record of the user with the new shared secret and associated effective life. Furthermore, the method includes transmitting the new shared secret and associated effective life to a communications device associated with the user, and replacing a shared secret and associated effective life stored in the communications device with the new shared secret and associated effective life.