User authentication for computer systems

A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer readable code which when run on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of authenticating a computer user comprising unlocking a secure media using a user entered identification, retrieving authentication credentials for the user from the secure media, the authentication credentials including a password, verifying the authentication credentials and, on successful verification, authenticating the user.

A computer or computer network programmed to perform the steps of authenticating a computer user comprising unlocking a secure media using a user entered identification, retrieving authentication credentials for the user from the secure media, the authentication credentials including a password, verifying the authentication credentials and, on successful verification, authenticating the user.

Apparatus for authenticating a computer user comprising a secure media having user authentication credentials including a password stored therein, means for unlocking the secure media via a user entered identification and retrieving the credentials and means for verifying the credentials and, on verification, authenticating the user.

Apparatus for authenticating a user to a computer network comprising a secure media at a network computer, the secure media storing authentication credentials including a password stored therein, a GINA program for unlocking the secure media in response to a user PIN, the GINA further comprising code for retrieving the authentication credentials from the secure media and passing them to the computer or network operating system for verification.

Apparatus for authenticating a user of an application running on a computer or a computer network, comprising a secure media at the computer or a user computer on the network, the secure media storing authentication credentials including a password stored therein, a scripting module for unlocking the secure module in response to a user PIN, the scripting module further comprising code for retrieving the authentication credentials from the secure media and passing them to the application for verification.