Patent ID: 7565536

Claim:
A method for authenticating a user on a host computer to a web server, comprising: establishing a secure communications channel between a plug-in operating on a host computer and a network security device; authenticating the user to the network security device; designating a web server to which a connection is desired from a browser operated by the user; establishing a connection between the network security device and the web server; establishing a security context by the web server; transferring the security context from the web server to the trusted network security device; transmitting the security context from the network security device to the plug-in; operating the plug-in to store the security context such that the security context may be retrieved by the browser; operating the browser to connect to the web server including transmitting the security context from the browser to the web server; and upon presentment of the security context, granting the user access to the services of the web server.