thumb|ATM user authenticating himself Authentication (from authentikos, "real, genuine", from αὐθέντης authentes, "author") is the act of proving an assertion, such as the identity of a computer system user. In contrast with identification, the act of indicating a person or thing's identity, authentication is the process of verifying that identity. It might involve validating personal identity documents, verifying the authenticity of a website with a digital certificate, determining the age of an artifact by carbon dating, or ensuring that a product or document is not counterfeit.
thumb|ATM user authenticating himself Authentication (from authentikos "real genuine" from αὐθέντης authentes "author") is the act of proving an assertion such as the identity of a computer system user In contrast with identification the act of indicating a person or thing's identity authentication is the process of verifying that identity It might involve validating personal identity documents verifying the authenticity of a website with a digital certificate determining the age of an artifact by carbon dating or ensuring that a product or document is not counterfeit