Patent ID: 8438383

Claim:
An improved user authentication system, comprising: a user client computer including a network interface, an operating system, a processor and memory, a browser, and an input device; the improvement comprising: a root certificate attached to the operating system; a globally unique identifier (GUID) disposed within the root certificate; a local encrypted vault file for storing user ID's and passwords corresponding to third-party websites, and that is normally locked; and an ID vault computer control program attached to the operating system and for execution by the processor and memory; wherein, the ID vault computer control program detects when the browser navigates to a third-party website that requires a user ID and password, and automatically requests a decryption key for the local encrypted vault file from a network server by supplying a personal identification number (PIN) from the user through the input device, a copy of the GUID, and a signature of GUID using a private key for the root certificate; and wherein, if said decryption key is returned from said network server, the local encrypted vault file is unlocked and automatically supplies a corresponding user ID and password to log-on to the third-party website without the user.