A method and apparatus are described that authenticates a first terminal to a
second
terminal. In one embodiment, the invention includes, requesting a string from the
second terminal, obtaining the requested string from the second terminal, merging
the obtained string with a password to create an identification code, receiving
an authentication if the identification code matches an identification code expected
at the second terminal and sending information from an information server to the
authenticated first terminal. In a further embodiment, the string is a pseudo random
number sequence and an element of an ordered series. Merging the string can include
merging the string with the password using an applet at the first terminal, the
applet executing an encryption algorithm with a unique merging key.
