Transaction assessment and/or authentication

An authentication system for electronic transactions occurring over a computerized network, the system comprising:

• a transaction authentication system interface operatively coupled to the computerized network to receive:
• proposed transaction information, and identification information of a computer initiating the proposed transaction information;
• at least one electronic storage device containing a user information database;
• and
• a transaction authentication tool, operatively coupled to the transaction authentication system interface and to the user information database and configured to:
• store a first electronic signature representative of a first user in the user information database, the first electronic signature including a plurality of attributes associated with the first user collected in connection with a prior transaction associated with a first entity taken from the group consisting of a first merchant, a first bank and a first payment processor;
• associate the first electronic signature with a payment instrument utilized in the prior transaction;
• receive from the transaction authentication system interface a second electronic signature representative of a second user in connection with a proposed transaction utilizing a payment instrument, the second electronic signature including a plurality of attributes associated with the second user collected in connection with the proposed transaction associated with a second entity, different from the first entity, taken from the group consisting of a second merchant, a second bank and a second payment processor, wherein the plurality of attributes associated with the first user and the plurality of attributes associated with the second user include:
• computer fingerprint attributes associated with a computer of the individual;
• and
• browser fingerprint attributes associated with a browser of the computer of individual;
• determine whether the second electronic signature correlates with the first electronic signature by comparing the second electronic signature with the first electronic signature to determine an identity of the second user relative to the first user, wherein the comparing the second electronic signature with the first electronic signature includes comparing individual attributes collected in connection with the proposed transaction to corresponding ones of the plurality of attributes collected in connection with the prior transaction so as to determine whether or not an identity of the first user represented by the first electronic signature is the same as that performing the proposed transaction;
• and
• determine whether the proposed transaction is authorized based upon establishing the identity of the second user relative to the first user.

An authentication system for electronic transactions occurring over a computerized network, the system comprising:

• a transaction authentication system interface operatively coupled to the computerized network and receiving proposed transaction information over the computerized network;
• at least one electronic storage device containing a user information database storing plurality of stored electronic signatures, wherein each respective electronic signature of the plurality of stored electronic signatures includes:
• computer fingerprint attributes associated with a computer of an individual;
• and
• browser fingerprint attributes associated with a browser of the computer of the individual;
• and
• a transaction authentication tool, operatively coupled to the transaction authentication system interface and to the user information database, the transaction authentication tool:
• receiving, from the transaction authentication system interface, a received electronic signature representative of a user, the received electronic signature including a plurality of received attributes associated with an identity of the user;
• receiving information pertaining to a proposed transaction associated with the received electronic signature;
• comparing the plurality of received attributes of the received electronic signature to a plurality of stored attributes associated with the plurality of stored electronic signatures;
• identifying, among the plurality of received attributes, matched attributes and mismatched attributes, wherein:
• the matched attributes match stored attributes associated with individual stored electronic signatures, and
• the mismatched attributes do not match stored attributes associated with individual stored electronic signatures;
• identifying missed attributes of the user that are missing from the received electronic signature;
• assigning weights to the matched attributes, mismatched attributes, and missed attributes;
• calculating a trust score based on:
• a sum of weights assigned to the matched attributes;
• a sum of weights assigned to the mismatched attributes;
• and
• a sum of weights assigned to the missed attributes;
• and
• determining, based on the trust score, whether the received electronic signature correlates with any of the plurality of stored electronic signatures stored in the user information database.