System and method for distributed network acess and control enabling high availability, security and survivability

Abstract

A system, method and computer program that administers access and security on a network having more than one computer system connected thereto. This system, method and computer program has a local password file () which is one-way encrypted and contains user identifications, associated one-way encrypted passwords and associated privileges for each authorized user allowed access to the wide area network (). A user login module () is used to receive a user identification or role and password from a user and login the user when a match is found in the local password file (). A channel monitoring and filtering module () is provided to monitor and receive broadcast or multicast messages within the wide area network () and display the message to the user when the user's associated privileges permit the viewing of the message. This system, method and computer program also has a password management module () to update and insure that all the computers in the network contain the same local password file (). A remote auditing module () is provided to monitor and process anomalous events which may occur on a user's computer. A remote control module is also provided to enable a systems administrator or security officer to take appropriate action when a critical event transpires. An authentication module is also provided to enable a system administrator or security officer an option to check and confirm a password entered by a user for re-authentication.