Abstract: An authentication system for authenticating an identity of a user which has a database having a plurality of training questions about the user's past and a corresponding testing question for each of the training questions stored thereon. The authentication system also has a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the database and is operative in both a training session and a testing session to select a sub-set of the training questions and to pose them to the user, store user responses to the subset of training questions in the user's profile and, in said testing session and to select a subset of the testing questions. The subset of testing questions is posed to the user and the responses of said user to said subset of test questions checked against the user's profile. Each of the testing questions is based on a corresponding training question without a context.

Abstract: A method of providing incentives to users of a search engine at a website, including registering each user, sending a confirmation email to each user at each user's current email address, providing a login facility for each user, providing a search engine for each user, providing a user logout; and incrementing user points each time any of the foregoing steps are used. The points can be redeemed for cash, merchandise or services.

Abstract: An authentication system for authenticating an identity of a user which has a database having a plurality of training questions about the user's past and a corresponding testing question for each of the training questions stored thereon. The authentication system also has a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the database and is operative in both a training session and a testing session to select a sub-set of the training questions and to pose them to the user, store user responses to the subset of training questions in the user's profile and, in said testing session and to select a subset of the testing questions. The subset of testing questions is posed to the user and the responses of said user to said subset of test questions checked against the user's profile. Each of the testing questions is based on a corresponding training question without a context.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method of authenticating a user of an account at a service system using an authentication system is provided. For the method, it comprises: after the user successfully completes an initial sign-on procedure with the service system, providing an authentication question to the user from the authentication system; receiving and analyzing an answer from the user to the question; if the answer provides a sufficient level of confidence in the authenticity of the user, then providing a sign-on password to the user and to the service system for use for the user to submit the password to the service system to access the account.