SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING SECURE ONLINE TRANSACTIONS

1 . A system for performing secure online financial transactions, the system comprising:

a portable device comprising,

a biometric sensor configured to receive user identification information,

a memory configured to store user financial information, and

a processor coupled to the memory and the biometric sensor, the processor being configured to authenticate the user identification information;

a host computer coupled to the portable device; and

a transaction server in communication with the host computer and a merchant module via a network, the transaction server being configured to:

receive user purchase information from the merchant module, the user purchase information being indicative of a user-selected item for purchase,

receive the user financial information via the host computer after the user identification information is successfully authenticated, and

transmit the user purchase information and the user financial information to a financial processor module for confirmation of sufficient funds related to the user financial information.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the host computer is further configured to, during a financial transaction, operate under control of operating system instructions loaded from the portable device to the host computer.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the operating system instructions restrict the host computer from accessing non-volatile memory of the host computer during the financial transaction.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the host computer is communicatively coupled to the transaction server via an encrypted virtual private network (VPN) connection.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the transaction server is communicatively coupled to the financial processor via dedicated communication lines.

6 . A method for performing an online financial transaction, the method comprising:

receiving, with a transaction module, purchase information from a merchant over a network, the purchase information being indicative of user input as to a desired purchase;

receiving biometric information from a user;

authenticating the biometric information;

receiving, with the transaction module, user financial information over the network after said authentication; and

transmitting with the transaction module the user financial information and the purchase information to a financial processor.

7 . The method of claim 6 , additionally comprising providing the user with an option to make a biometrically-secured payment for the desired purchase.

8 . The method of claim 7 , additionally comprising emulating with the transaction server the manner of transmitting the user financial information and the purchase information to the financial processor as it is done by the online merchant in cases when a user elects not to make a biometrically-secured payment for a purchase.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the user financial information comprises user credit card information.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the credit card information comprises information from a plurality of credit cards.

11 . The method of claim 10 , additionally comprising receiving a user selection of information from one of the plurality of credit cards to be used in the financial transaction.

12 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the user biometric information and the user financial information are received from a portable device, the portable device comprising:

a biometric sensor configured to receive the user biometric information;

a memory configured to store the user financial information; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the biometric sensor, the processor being configured to authenticate the user identification information.

13 . The method of claim 12 , additionally comprising receiving a purchase receipt indicating completion of the desired purchase.

14 . The method of claim 13 , additionally comprising storing the purchase receipt in the memory of the portable device.

15 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the biometric information comprises a fingerprint.

16 . The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving user biometric information comprises receiving identification data indicative of the user biometric information via an encrypted virtual private network (VPN) connection.

17 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising performing additional authentication prior to transmitting the user financial information and the purchase information.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said performing additional authentication comprises receiving user input correctly identifying a predetermined one of a plurality of displayed images.

19 . A system for performing secure online financial transactions, the system comprising:

means for receiving purchase information via a network from a merchant, the purchase information being sent by the merchant in response to user input as to a desired purchase;

means for receiving user biometric information;

means for authenticating the biometric information;

means for receiving user financial information over the network upon successful authentication of the biometric information; and

means for transmitting the user financial information and the purchase information to a financial processor.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein said means for receiving further comprises operating system instructions configured to independently control a host computer during a purchase transaction such that the host computer does not access a non-volatile memory of the host computer during the purchase transaction.