felhasználóhitelesítés

Felhasználóhitelesítés, often translated as user authentication, is the process of verifying the identity of a user attempting to access a system or resource. This verification typically involves checking credentials provided by the user against a stored set of known credentials. The primary goal of user authentication is to ensure that only authorized individuals can gain access, thereby protecting sensitive data and preventing unauthorized actions.

There are several common methods used for user authentication. The most basic is knowledge-based authentication, where the user provides something they know, such as a password or a PIN. Another method is possession-based authentication, which relies on the user possessing a physical item, like a security token or a smartphone. The third major category is inherence-based authentication, which uses unique biological characteristics of the user, such as fingerprints, facial features, or iris patterns, commonly referred to as biometrics.

Often, systems employ multi-factor authentication (MFA), which combines two or more of these authentication methods. MFA significantly enhances security by making it much harder for unauthorized individuals to gain access, even if one of their credentials is compromised. For example, logging in with a password (knowledge) and then receiving a one-time code on a registered phone (possession) is a common MFA approach. The effectiveness of user authentication is crucial for maintaining the security and integrity of digital systems and services.