System and apparatus for secure password recovery and identity verification

A method comprising:

• receiving a first request for opening an account at a server of a service provider, wherein the first request was obtained from a user interface of a device of a user;
• responsive to receiving the first request, transmitting, from the server to the device, a set of questions to be displayed in the user interface of the device;
• receiving, at the server, a response to the set of questions, the response including a username, a password, a reset phrase, and a reset media file, wherein:
• the response was obtained using the user interface of the device;
• and
• the user can access the account using the username and the password;
• receiving, at the server, a second request for resetting the password, wherein the second request was obtained from the user interface of a second device;
• responsive to receiving the second request, transmitting, from the server to the second device, a communication including the reset phrase and a plurality of media files, wherein:
• the communication is configured to be displayed on the user interface of the second device;
• and
• the media files include a plurality of related media files and the reset media file;
• receiving, at the server from the second device, a selection of at least one of the plurality of media files, wherein the selection was obtained using the user interface of the second device;
• and
• responsive to receiving the selection, determining whether the selection matches the reset media file, and if the selection matches the reset media file, transmitting a temporary password to the user such that the user can access the account using the username and the temporary password.

A method comprising:

• transmitting a first request for opening an account to a server of a service provider, wherein the first request is entered into a user interface of a device of a user;
• displaying a set of questions received from the server in the user interface of the device;
• transmitting, to the server, a response to the set of questions, the response including a username, a password, a reset phrase, and a reset media file, wherein:
• the response is entered using the user interface of the device;
• and
• the user can access the account using the username and the password;
• transmitting, from a second device to the server, a second request for resetting the password, wherein the second request is entered from the user interface of the second device;
• receiving, at the second device from the server, a communication including the reset phrase and a plurality of media files, wherein:
• the communication is displayed on the user interface of the second device;
• and
• the media files include a plurality of related media files and the reset media file;
• transmitting, from the second device to the server, a selection of at least one of the plurality of media files, wherein the selection is entered using the user interface of the second device;
• and
• receiving a temporary password at the second device in response to a determination by the server that the selection matches the reset media file, wherein the user can access the account using the username and the temporary password.

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a server from a device, a request for resetting a password;
• responsive to receiving the request, transmitting, from the server to the device, a communication including a reset phrase and a plurality of media files, wherein:
• the communication is configured to be displayed on a user interface of the device;
• and
• the media files include a plurality of related media files, and at least one of the reset media file and a media file indicating that the reset media file is not displayed;
• receiving, at the server from the device, a selection of at least one of the plurality of media files, wherein the selection was obtained using the user interface of the device;
• and
• responsive to receiving the selection, determining whether the selection matches the reset media file, and if the selection matches the reset media file, transmitting a temporary password to the user such that the user can access the account using the username and the temporary password, wherein:
• the server includes a database of media files;
• the plurality of related media files is chosen by the server;
• the server chooses each of the plurality of related media files based on a comparison of the reset media file and at least some of the media files stored in the database;
• and
• the server chooses each of the plurality of related media files if the media files are within a tolerance level of similarity of the reset media file.