Download Index

In-Depth Reviews

Tips & Tutorials

Updates

News

Browsers

Chat / Conferencing

Desktop Utilities

Development

Internet Apps

Multimedia

OS Service Packs

Productivity Tools

WinPlanet: Glossary

Enter a keyword...

...or choose a category. choose one... Communications Computer Industry Companies Computer Science Data Graphics Hardware Internet and Online Services Mobile Computing Multimedia Networks Operating Systems Programming Software Standards Types of Computers World Wide Web

authentication Last modified: Thursday, September 23, 2004
The process of identifying an individual, usually based on a username and password. In security systems, authentication is distinct from authorization , which is the process of giving individuals access to system objects based on their identity. Authentication merely ensures that the individual is who he or she claims to be, but says nothing about the access rights of the individual.
eSecurity Planet  A resource for daily information on e-security targeted to IT managers. The site provides users with information from a variety of sources, including experts at security product and services firms, and the consultants who follow the security industry. Mosaic user authentication tutorial Surveys the current methods in NCSA Mosaic and NCSA HTTPd for restricting access to documents and provides set-up and use of these methods. NCSA HTTPd tutorials Contains links to several tutorials that focus on security-related, CGI and virtual hosting aspects of server set-up. Yahoo!'s user authentication page Yahoo!'s directory of user authentication. RFC 2069 Request for Comments paper on Digest Access Authentication.	Related Categories Digital Rights Management (DRM) Security Related Terms AAA accounting authorization backdoor challenge-response credential EAP ESN false acceptance false rejection nonrepudiation PEAP S/key SAML session hijacking single signon TACACS TCB