A user network station transmits a cookie that includes a user identifier
and an augmenting factor transformed with one key of a first asymmetric
crypto-key or with a symmetric crypto-key. An authenticating entity
network station recovers the augmenting factor from the transformed
augmenting factor included in the transmitted cookie, with the other key
of the first asymmetric crypto-key or with the symmetric crypto-key, and
transmits a customized login page corresponding to the user identifier.
The user network station transmits a factor responsive to the transmitted
customized login page. The authenticating entity network station
generates a first key portion based on the transmitted factor and the
recovered augmenting factor, and validates the generated first key
portion based on a second key portion of one key of a second asymmetric
crypto-key associated with the user and on the other key of the second
asymmetric crypto-key, to thereby authenticate the user.