Authentication Methods
Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or device before granting access to a system. There are various methods of authentication, each providing different levels of security. In the past, authentication methods have relied on a single factor, but combining multiple factors can enhance security.
Older authentication methods are still used today and include systems that ask the user to prove their identity by entering a password or PIN. This type of authentication is called something-you-know authentication. Other examples of something you know include your mother’s maiden name, birth date, where you met your spouse, and the name of your first pet.
With this authentication, the user inputs what they know; a password, PIN, mother’s maiden name, or first dog’s name are all considered something-you-know factors. In general, this information gets saved as a hash and not as the word itself. This way, the systems...
