A verification token comprising: a peripheral interface adapted to couple to a peripheral interface of a computer; a reader adapted to read identification information from portable consumer devices; a computer-readable medium; a data processor electrically coupled to the peripheral interface of the verification token, the reader, and the computer-readable medium; code embodied on the computer-readable medium that directs the data processor to receive identification information read from a portable consumer device by the reader; characterized by code embodied on the computer-readable medium that directs the data processor to communicate with a computer by way of the peripheral interface of the verification token, said code comprising function calls to an application programming interface of a network services module of the computer that can gain access to a networking facility of the computer for setting up a communications session with an entity that can provide a device verification value; code embodied on the computer-readable medium that directs the data processor to transmit by way of function calls to the application programming interface of the network services module of the computer at least a portion of the identification information received from the portable consumer device to the entity that can provide a device verification value; code embodied on the computer-readable medium that directs the data processor to receive, by way of function calls to the application programming interface of the network services module, after transmitting said identification information, a device verification value from the entity by way of the networking facility of the computer; and code embodied on the computer-readable medium that directs the data processor, by way of function calls to an application programming interface of a browser of the computer, to locate a browser web page of a merchant website on the computer that has a form field for a device verification value, and to enter the device verification value received from the entity in the form field, wherein the device verification value is a variable datum used by the merchant to complete a purchase transaction. a peripheral interface adapted to couple to a peripheral interface of a computer; a reader adapted to read identification information from portable consumer devices; a computer-readable medium; a data processor electrically coupled to the peripheral interface of the verification token, the reader, and the computer-readable medium; code embodied on the computer-readable medium that directs the data processor to receive identification information read from a portable consumer device by the reader; characterized by code embodied on the computer-readable medium that directs the data processor to communicate with a computer by way of the peripheral interface of the verification token, said code comprising function calls to an application programming interface of a network services module of the computer that can gain access to a networking facility of the computer for setting up a communications session with an entity that can provide a device verification value; code embodied on the computer-readable medium that directs the data processor to transmit by way of function calls to the application programming interface of the network services module of the computer at least a portion of the identification information received from the portable consumer device to the entity that can provide a device verification value; code embodied on the computer-readable medium that directs the data processor to receive, by way of function calls to the application programming interface of the network services module, after transmitting said identification information, a device verification value from the entity by way of the networking facility of the computer; and code embodied on the computer-readable medium that directs the data processor, by way of function calls to an application programming interface of a browser of the computer, to locate a browser web page of a merchant website on the computer that has a form field for a device verification value, and to enter the device verification value received from the entity in the form field, wherein the device verification value is a variable datum used by the merchant to complete a purchase transaction.