Patent ID: 7434251

Claim:
An authentication system to verify a password, the system being arranged for coupling to a host for communication therewith, and comprising: a first storage unit to store an authentication sequence; a read-only memory unit to store an authentication algorithm; a microcontroller coupled to said first storage unit and said read-only memory unit, wherein the microcontroller is configured to be coupled to and uncoupled from a host and to receive the password from the host and execute the authentication algorithm and wherein the authentication algorithm is configured to verify the password with the authentication sequence; a second storage unit coupled to the microcontroller and configured to store data received from a web server via the host and the microcontroller and wherein access by the host to data stored in the second storage unit is permitted by the microcontroller only if the password has been verified; and an encoder coupled to the microcontroller and the second storage unit, wherein the encoder is configured to receive encrypted data from the web server, via the host and the microcontroller and to decrypt that data before use thereof in the host if the password has been verified.