HOST-INITIATED AUTHENTICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

The invention allows an invited recipient to enter a security-protected system such as a website without traditional authentication by providing the security-protected system with a pre-arranged host-initiated authentication on behalf of the recipient. An invite message advises the recipient of the invited action, which may be as simple as entering the system or performing a task within the system. The recipient accepts the invitation by affirmatively responding to the invite message which includes the unique code to identify the recipient. Upon receipt of the affirmative response with the unique code from the recipient, the system platform executes algorithms which assess the risk of completing the action with the invited recipient, and if appropriate, provides the authentication to the security-protected system which will allow the recipient to take the invited action without providing additional authentication, such as a password.