A system and method to authenticate a user utilizing a time-varying auxiliary code. The code may be appended to a fixed password, but that is not required. The code is generated by a central electronic authentication system. The user retrieves it manually using a fungible communications device such as a telephone or a computer connected to the Internet. The user must learn the code because he inputs it manually, thereby authenticating himself. The present invention performs the same function as inventions with tokens, that is, it provides an extension to the PIN or password, but it eliminates the token and the synchronization required with such a token.