US Patent 7747540 Account linking with privacy keys

A computer system includes a security module programmed to generate a first privacy key for use with secure communications with a first web site, and a second privacy key for use with secure communications with a second web site, the first and second keys being different. The computer system also includes an identity module programmed to receive a request from the first web site for linking a first user account associated with the first web site with a second user account associated with the second web site, and the identity module being programmed to present a user with an option to link the first and second user accounts.