What Is Authentication?
Authentication is the process of verifying that a user or device is who they claim to be. It involves providing some form of proof, such as a username and password combination, biometric data like fingerprints or facial recognition, or even something physical like an ID card. Authentication helps ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive information and resources.
The authentication process typically begins with the user entering their credentials into a login page on a website or application. The system then verifies these credentials against its database before granting access to the requested resource. In addition to passwords, two-factor authentication (2FA) adds another layer of security by requiring additional verification steps such as sending an SMS code to your phone number for confirmation. This makes it much harder for hackers to gain unauthorized access since they would need both your username/password and your mobile device in order to log in successfully.