Patent ID: 7966649

Claim:
A method for authenticating a user to a computer system comprising the steps of: a) providing to said user an instance of a challenge display so that said user may identify an appropriate response and b) providing a means whereby said appropriate response is likely to be different for each instance of said challenge display for said user and different from a second password said user knows and c) providing a means for submitting a chosen response by said user selecting a displayed representation of said chosen response in a display of a plurality of possible responses and d) comparing said chosen response with said appropriate response to determine whether said user is authenticated to said computer system, wherein an appearance of said challenge display comprises a plurality of second passwords, said plurality of second passwords including at least one valid second password, known to said user and said computer system, and at least one decoy second password, wherein each of said second passwords is assigned an individual response, whereby access to said computer system can be controlled without divulging said second password to onlookers or malware.