Method and apparatus for improving security of a computer network utilizing simple mail transfer protocol (smtp)

A system for controlling access to a secure website without requiring a password, the system comprising:

• a memory;
• a network interface;
• and
• one or more processors communicatively coupled to the memory and the network interface, wherein the one or more processors are collectively configured to:
• receive, via a webpage, a login request associated with a user attempting to access the secure website;
• capture metadata associated with the login request, the metadata comprising at least an Internet Protocol (IP) address or an HTTP user-agent string;
• generate an authentication token associated with the login request;
• transmit, using the network interface and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), an authentication message comprising the authentication token to a registered email address associated with the user;
• receive a response email associated with the authentication token;
• validate the authentication token;
• when the authentication token is valid, grant access to the secure website;
• and
• when access to the secure website is granted, transmit, using the network interface and SMTP, an authentication confirmation message.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing device to perform a method for controlling access to a secure website without requiring a password, the method comprising:

• receiving, via a webpage, a login request associated with a user attempting to access the secure website;
• generating an authentication token associated with the login request;
• transmitting, using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), an authentication message comprising the authentication token to a registered email address associated with the user;
• receiving a response message associated with the authentication token;
• determining whether the authentication token is valid;
• when the authentication token is valid, granting access to the secure website;
• and
• transmitting, using SMTP, an authentication confirmation message when access to the secure website is granted.