A method for authenticating a user of a wireless device, the method comprising: detecting the wireless device entering into range of an access point (140, 150) and establishing a communication connection, wherein the access point (140,150) resides on a personal computing device configured to execute software applications that send and receive data over a data network, and wherein the access point (140, 150) and the wireless device maintain the communication with each other through a short-range wireless connection when the access point (140, 150) and the wireless device are within range of each other; the user or an application to be accessed by the user invoking an application access event at the wireless device; obtaining, by an authentication application, data regarding the application access event from the data network (200, 210) via the access point (140, 150); obtaining, by the authentication application, a unique identifier representing the user from the wireless device from the application access event data; obtaining, by the authentication application, authentication key information associated with the user from the wireless device; obtaining, by the authentication application, a location of the application access event from the wireless device or the access point (140, 150); and generating, by the authentication application, an authentication result based on the application access event data, the unique identifier, the authentication key information, the location of the application access event and the time the location of the application access event was obtained, wherein the generated authentication result is used to perform one of allowing or denying access to the application to be accessed or the personal computing device associated with the access point (140, 150). detecting the wireless device entering into range of an access point (140, 150) and establishing a communication connection, wherein the access point (140,150) resides on a personal computing device configured to execute software applications that send and receive data over a data network, and wherein the access point (140, 150) and the wireless device maintain the communication with each other through a short-range wireless connection when the access point (140, 150) and the wireless device are within range of each other; the user or an application to be accessed by the user invoking an application access event at the wireless device; obtaining, by an authentication application, data regarding the application access event from the data network (200, 210) via the access point (140, 150); obtaining, by the authentication application, a unique identifier representing the user from the wireless device from the application access event data; obtaining, by the authentication application, authentication key information associated with the user from the wireless device; obtaining, by the authentication application, a location of the application access event from the wireless device or the access point (140, 150); and generating, by the authentication application, an authentication result based on the application access event data, the unique identifier, the authentication key information, the location of the application access event and the time the location of the application access event was obtained, wherein the generated authentication result is used to perform one of allowing or denying access to the application to be accessed or the personal computing device associated with the access point (140, 150).