Authentication Fundamentals

Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user. In web applications, authentication typically involves verifying that users are who they claim to be.

Authentication Factors

  • Something you know - Password, PIN, security questions
  • Something you have - Phone, hardware token, smart card
  • Something you are - Fingerprint, face recognition, iris scan

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) combines two or more factors for stronger security.