Digital businesses today need to operate using multi-factor authentication, which requires users to provide more than one type of identification to access their accounts. Here are the three types of authentication:

🧠 What the User Knows

This authentication factor involves something that only the user should know, such as:

• Passwords
• PINs
• Security questions
• Passphrases

Solely relying on this method also increases a user's vulnerability to hacking and phishing attacks because users often reuse passwords across multiple accounts or choose weak passwords that are easy to guess.

🪪 What the User Owns

This authentication factor involves something that only the user should possess, such as:

• ID Documents
• Security tokens
• Mobile devices
• USB keys

This adds layers of complexity for any fraud attacks, requiring criminals to physically gain access to the items to conduct any transactions, thus serving as a deterrent.

👨 Who the User Is

This authentication factor involves physical traits unique to the user, such as:

• Fingerprint
• Face
• Retina