Patent ID: 8255982

Claim:
A method comprising: checking, by a computer-based system for determining a minimum security level for authentication, for a cookie residing on a user computing unit, wherein the host computer reads the preference set in the cookie; identifying a user, by the computer-based system, in response to the preference set including information regarding the minimum level of security for authentication of the user; enabling, by the computer-based system, the user to register with the host and select an authentication method in response to the preference set not including information regarding the minimum level of security for authentication of the user; allowing, by the computer-based system, a change from at least one of a first authentication method or a second authentication method to a third authentication method from a plurality of methods of authentication, without accessing a first restricted service or a second restricted service, respectively, wherein the first method of authentication is associated with the first restricted service, and wherein the second method of authentication is associated with the second restricted service; receiving, by the computer-based system, a request for access to at least one of the first restricted service or the second restricted service; and granting, by the computer-based system, access to at least one of the first restricted service in response to receiving predetermined input associated with the first method of authentication or the second restricted service in response to receiving predetermined input associated with the second method of authentication.