Patent ID: 8151343

Claim:
A method for authenticating a user, comprising: receiving an account identifier from the user; obtaining a media prompt from an account based on the account identifier; presenting the user with the media prompt intermixed in a plurality of false media prompts and a question prompt intermixed in a plurality of false question prompts, wherein the media prompt depicts an image lacking an event, wherein the question prompt presents a question asking about characteristics of the event absent from the image and known based on personal knowledge specific to the user, wherein the false media prompts are of a same type of media as the media prompt, wherein each false question prompt presents a false question, and wherein the user knows which prompts are false question prompts and which prompts are false media prompts based on the personal knowledge specific to the user; receiving input answering the question prompt, wherein the input is triggered by the user viewing the media prompt; comparing, using a processor of a computer system, the input with a valid response to confirm an identity of the user, wherein the valid response requires the personal knowledge specific to the user with respect to the media prompt; and authorizing the user to access a resource when the identity of the user is confirmed.