Autentifica

Autentifica is the process of establishing that a user, device, or other entity is who it claims to be. In information security, authentication is a prerequisite for access control and is distinct from authorization, which determines what an authenticated entity is allowed to do. Autentifica can occur at various levels, from logging into a system to proving a device’s identity in a network.

A core concept in autentifica is the use of factors, typically categorized as something you know (passwords or PINs), something you have (security tokens, smart cards, mobile devices), something you are (biometrics such as fingerprints or facial recognition), or, in some cases, something you do (behavioral patterns). Many systems combine multiple factors to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA), which significantly increases security by requiring more than one form of verification. Passwordless approaches seek to replace passwords with cryptographic credentials, often using hardware security keys or platform authenticators.

Common methods and technologies for autentifica include password-based authentication, biometric verification, token-based systems (such as one-time passwords), and digital certificates within a public key infrastructure (PKI). On the web, protocols and standards frequently involved are OpenID Connect and SAML for identity federation and authentication, OAuth for authorization flows, and WebAuthn with FIDO2 for modern, passwordless authentication. Mutual TLS and client certificates are also used in enterprise and device authentication scenarios.

Security considerations center on protecting credentials from phishing, credential stuffing, and man-in-the-middle attacks. Mitigations include MFA, phishing-resistant authenticators, hardware security modules, secure channel protections, and regular credential hygiene. Proper implementation of autentifica supports secure access, user convenience, and privacy across diverse environments and applications.