Authentication facts for kids

This is a picture of the front (top) and back (bottom) of an ID Card.

Authentication (pronounced "aw-then-ti-keyt") (from Greek αυθεντικός; real or genuine, from authentes; author) is the actions taken to establish or verify something (or someone) as authentic. It is the method of verifying claims made by someone about the thing. This might involve confirming the identity of a person, the origins of an object (or something), or to make sure that a computer program (or user) is a trusted one. People are usually authenticated by something they know (password), something they have (key), or something they are (biometrics).

Images for kids

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  ATM user authenticating himself

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  A security hologram label on an electronics box for authentication

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  NSA KAL-55B Tactical Authentication System used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War – National Cryptologic Museum

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  A military police officer checks a driver's identification card before allowing her to enter a military base.

See also

In Spanish: Autenticación para niños