A method for securely connecting a client computer having a secure boot device to a remote server over a communications network, the method comprising: booting a client computer from a trusted set of processing modules stored in the secure boot device; verifying the contents of the trusted set of processing modules prior to execution of these processing modules; the method being characterized by the further steps of: providing authentication information from data stored upon the secure boot device to an authentication server to establish a secure connection to the remote server; establishing the secure connection with the remote server using encryption keys stored on the secure boot device; and transferring data between the client computer and the remote server over the secure connection to perform transactions initiated by a user of the client computer; wherein the remote server utilizes encryption keys associated with a unique ID from the secure boot device; the secure connection utilizes a secure parser and data encryption for data passing between the client computer and the remote server; and the secure connection transmits data to the client computer only when the transmitted data is associated with a community of interest to which the client computer is a member. booting a client computer from a trusted set of processing modules stored in the secure boot device; verifying the contents of the trusted set of processing modules prior to execution of these processing modules; the method being characterized by the further steps of: providing authentication information from data stored upon the secure boot device to an authentication server to establish a secure connection to the remote server; establishing the secure connection with the remote server using encryption keys stored on the secure boot device; and transferring data between the client computer and the remote server over the secure connection to perform transactions initiated by a user of the client computer; wherein the remote server utilizes encryption keys associated with a unique ID from the secure boot device; the secure connection utilizes a secure parser and data encryption for data passing between the client computer and the remote server; and the secure connection transmits data to the client computer only when the transmitted data is associated with a community of interest to which the client computer is a member. providing authentication information from data stored upon the secure boot device to an authentication server to establish a secure connection to the remote server; establishing the secure connection with the remote server using encryption keys stored on the secure boot device; and transferring data between the client computer and the remote server over the secure connection to perform transactions initiated by a user of the client computer; wherein the remote server utilizes encryption keys associated with a unique ID from the secure boot device; the secure connection utilizes a secure parser and data encryption for data passing between the client computer and the remote server; and the secure connection transmits data to the client computer only when the transmitted data is associated with a community of interest to which the client computer is a member.