Authentication is a procedure that allows you to verify the authenticity of the data specified by the user. After successfully passing the authentication, the user is given access to classified information on the Internet resource.
Principle of operation
To pass authentication, the user is prompted to enter a combination of certain data, for example, the login and password of the account used. The required information is entered by the visitor into a special HTML form. After clicking on the confirmation button, the authentication program sends the specified data to the server for comparison with the records in the database. If the combination stored on the site matches the entered information, the user is redirected to the closed part of the site. If the entered data does not match, the visitor is prompted to re-authorize.
The authentication procedure is carried out in order to provide the user with certain rights that unauthorized guests do not have. After successfully logging in, the user can access his personal account, where he will be able to change account data and make additional settings and operations. For example, after passing authentication in social networks, the user gets the right to correspond and publish on his own behalf.
Authentication methods
To gain access to the private part of the Internet service, various authentication methods can be used, which are selected in accordance with the security requirements.
Some resources offer to perform authorization using an automatically generated one-time password, which is sent to the user upon request. A numeric or text combination for entering is sent via SMS or via e-mail. Sometimes one-time passwords are generated by special eToken devices.
Systems requiring increased security often use biometric authentication using an iris scan or palm print. In some cases, the technology of automatic examination of the user's handwriting or voice is used. There are also developments that allow authorization by human DNA.
The authentication process on the Internet is used on such resources as web forums, blogs, social networks. Authorization using various methods is carried out in payment systems, Internet banking, online stores and on some corporate resources. Depending on the degree of security of the site and the importance of the information stored on it, various methods of gaining access can be implemented.
