Abstract: A user establishes a digital wallet and registers with and signs in to an authorized application. The user begins a web browsing session, accesses a merchant website, and initiates a transaction using the digital wallet. The user web browser is directed to an authentication page. The user authorizes the transaction and has the option to pre-authorize the merchant for future transactions. The user is redirected to the merchant website and approves the transaction. The transaction is conducted with the virtual credit number created by the payment processing system. The user initiates a subsequent transaction. The digital wallet determines that the previous browsing session is active, the merchant is pre-authorized, and the user is logged into the authorized application. The subsequent transaction is processed without having to be authenticated by the user via the authentication page. Otherwise, the user re-authorizes the merchant via the authentication page before the subsequent transaction proceeds.