A system determines whether to grant user access. Prior to granting
access, the network server authenticates the user by sending an
authentication request. An authentication server determines whether the
user has been authenticated. If the user has been authenticated, the
network server is notified and the network server grants access. If the
user is not authenticated, then login information is retrieved and
compared to maintained authentication information. If the retrieved login
information matches, then the network server is notified. The retrieved
login and authentication information is concealed from the network
server. If the user is authenticated, a user profile is communicated to
the network server with the notification. If the user is successfully
authenticated, a cookie is provided to a user Internet browser. The
cookie contains information regarding user authentication, the user's
profile, and a list of network servers previously visited.