A method of effecting secure communication over a network begins by interfacing a hardware token with a computer host. The hardware token includes security software and communication software stored thereon. The security software is stored in a memory of the hardware token. The computer host has a memory distinct from the hardware token memory. The authenticity of the security software is determined on the hardware token. Upon successful validation of the authenticity of the security software on the hardware token, the authenticity of the communication software is determined by loading the security software from the hardware token memory into the computer host memory and executing the loaded security software from the computer host memory. After successful validation of the authenticity of the communication software, the computer host facilitates communication between the hardware token and a remote computer by executing the communication software from the computer host memory.