Methods of resetting passwords in network service systems including user redirection and related systems and computer-program products

A network service system that provides access to a data network for a user having a network service account therewith, the system comprising:

• an access control point implemented on a first server configured to accept entry of a password from an electronic device remote from the first server as a condition of providing access to the data network, to compare the entered password with a known password for the user using the electronic device, and to redirect the user of the electronic device if the entered password does not match the known password;
• and
• a password reset tool implemented on a second server separate from the first server, wherein the password reset tool is configured to accept redirection of the user of the electronic device from the access control point implemented at the first server to the password reset tool implemented at the second server, wherein the user of the electronic device is blocked from network access other than the password reset tool implemented at the second server while being redirected, the password reset tool implemented at the second server being further configured to accept user entry of verification information after redirecting the user of the electronic device to the password reset tool, to compare the verification information from the user of the electronic device with known verification information for the user of the electronic device, to accept user entry of a new password if the verification information accepted from the user of the electronic device matches the known verification information for the user of the electronic device, and to store the new password as the known password for the user of the electronic device.

A computer program product configured to reset a password for a network service account, the computer program product comprising a computer useable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:

• computer-readable program code that is configured to accept entry of a password at a first server from an electronic device wherein the electronic device is remote from the first server;
• and
• computer-readable program code that is configured to compare the entered password with a known password, wherein redirecting the user to the password reset tool comprises redirecting the user to the password reset tool if the entered password does not match the known password;
• computer-readable program code that is configured to redirect a user of the electronic device from the first server to a second server providing a password reset tool if the entered password does not match the known password after comparing the entered password with the known password, and to block the user of the electronic device from network access other than the password reset tool while being redirected to the second server, wherein the second server is separate from the first server;
• computer-readable program code that is configured to accept user entry of verification information at the second server after redirecting the user of the electronic device to the second server providing the password reset tool;
• computer-readable program code that is configured to compare the verification information from the user with known verification information for the user;
• computer-readable program code that is configured to accept user entry of a new password if the verification information accepted from the user matches the known verification information for the user;
• and
• computer-readable program code that is configured to store the new password as the known password for the user.