APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SYSTEM USER AUTHENTICATION

An apparatus for user authentication includes an input module that receives an authentication token, a counter module that increments a count of the number of authentication tokens received, a security module that determines whether the authentication token matches a valid authentication token for the user, prompts the user for another authentication token in response to determining that the authentication token does not match the valid authentication token, and provides the user simulated access to an electronic system in response to determining that (i) the count of the number of authentication tokens received is equal to one and (ii) the authentication token matches the valid authentication token, and an access module that provides the user authentic access to the electronic system in response to determining that (i) the count of the number of authentication tokens received is greater than one and (ii) the authentication token matches the valid authentication token.