CONFIDENCE-BASED AUTHENTICATION

A programmed computer assigns an authentication requirement rating to an activity and an authentication capability rating to each of one or more authentication methods. The programmed computer receives a request from a user to perform the activity and a first authentication sample result based on a first authentication attempt performed by the user using a first authentication method. The programmed computer determines a current authentication rating for the user based on the authentication capability rating of the first authentication method and the first authentication sample result. The programmed computer then determines whether to allow the user to perform the requested activity based on a comparison of the authentication requirement rating associated with the activity requested by the user and the current authentication rating determined for the user. The programmed computer provides a final authentication result.