Method and system for providing secure user access to public or private telephone and internet systems

A method of performing authentication within a data system comprising the steps of:

• a) placing a portable computer system into a cradle, said cradle associated with an Ethernet phone;
• b) detecting a connection to said portable computer system in response to said step a), said step b) performed by a hub/switch of a local area network (LAN) that is connected to a Public Switched Telephone Network;
• c) in response to said step b), a server of said LAN causing said cradle to access user authentication data of said portable computer system and to transmit said user authentication data to said server;
• d) performing user authentication based on said user authentication data;
• e) provided said user authentication is successful, said server opening a port on said hub/switch for allowing said Ethernet phone to communicate voice data over said LAN and also allowing said cradle access to said LAN and said server for closing said port in response to detecting operational variations that are unfamiliar to said LAN;
• and
• f) provided said user authentication is not successful, said server blocking said Ethernet phone and said cradle from accessing said LAN.