Authentication

In both public and private networks, authentication mainly works by way of usernames and passwords. This information may be assigned by the network or self declared. In order to prove authenticity, a user most have knowledge of the password, even when subsequently attempting to access a network. Authentication is typically required when monetary transactions are being made on the web. Though it does provide some form of protection, weaknesses in the system are rather significant. Passwords can be easily forgotten, accidently revealed or stolen by thirty-party web surfers. These vulnerabilities have raised the standards of online business and several other transactions to require a more efficient process of authentication. Digital certificates issued by an official CA (Certificate Authority), has now become the most reliable way to authenticate transactions and other activities on the internet. Technically, this process precedes authorization. There has also been confusion as the two are often combined.