Patent ID: 8490162

Claim:
A system comprising: a memory configured to: store a credential verifier associated with a user account; store a lifetime counter, the lifetime counter associated with the user account; and store an instance counter, the instance counter associated with the user account; and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the memory including executable instructions that upon execution cause the system to: receive a first authentication attempt; increment the lifetime counter and the instance counter if validation of the first authentication attempt against the credential verifier fails; receive a second authentication attempt; increment the lifetime counter and the instance counter only if validation of the second authentication attempt against the credential verifier fails and the second authentication attempt is distinct from the first authentication attempt; authenticate the user account if validation of the first authentication attempt succeeds; reset the instance counter in response to authenticating the user account; and allow the lifetime counter to remain in a current state in response to authenticating the user account.