5 user authentication methods to prevent data breaches

There is a growing demand for different types of user authentication technologies for both online and physical systems. The motivation to authenticate users ranges from access control and compliance to business development goals, such as enabling e-commerce. 

Organizations need to understand that passwords are not the only way to authenticate users. There are a wide variety of authentication technologies and an even greater range of activities that require diverse authentication methods. 

What is user authentication? 

Authentication is the process of identifying users that request access to a system, network, or device. Access control often determines user identity according to credentials like username and password. Other authentication technologies, like biometrics and authentication apps, are also used to authenticate user identity. 

Why is user authentication important? 

User authentication is a method that keeps unauthorized users from accessing sensitive information. For example, User A only has access to relevant information and cannot see the sensitive information of User B.  

Cybercriminals can gain access to a system and steal information when user authentication is not secure. The data breaches at companies like Adobe, Equifax, and Yahoo are examples of what happens when organizations fail to secure user authentication.  

Hackers gained access to Yahoo user accounts to steal contacts, calendars, and private emails between 2012 and 2016. The Equifax data breach in 2017 exposed credit data of more than 147 million consumers. More recently, Microsoft confirmed that a nation-state threat actor compromised corporate email accounts by forging authentication tokens, demonstrating how modern attacks increasingly target identity systems. In another incident in 2024, National Public Data (NPD) suffered a major breach that exposed more than 2.9 billion customer records. Without a secure authentication process, any organization could be at risk. 

In 2025, cybersecurity researchers uncovered a massive data leak exposing more than 16 billion stolen credentials online. This shows that weak passwords and outdated authentication practices remain one of the biggest threats to digital security. 

Authentication methods are commonly grouped into three factor types, based on the evidence used to verify a user's identity:

• Something you know: Information only the user should know, such as a password, PIN, or security question.
• Something you have: A physical device or credential the user possesses, such as a smartphone, hardware security key, authentication app, or digital certificate.
• Something you are: A biometric characteristic tied to the user, such as their face, fingerprint, voice, iris, or behavioral patterns.

The strongest authentication strategies combine two or more factors. For example, a user may authenticate with a password, approve a prompt on a registered device, and complete a biometric check. This layered approach makes it much harder for attackers to gain access with stolen credentials alone.

How to choose the right authentication method

The right authentication method depends on the risk level of the workflow, the type of user, and the cost of a compromised account. Low-risk consumer applications may prioritize convenience with passwords, passkeys, or device-based authentication. Enterprise systems often require multi-factor authentication, certificate-based authentication, or single sign-on to manage access across employees and applications. For high-risk transactions, remote onboarding, financial services, and access to sensitive data, organizations should use layered authentication. Combining biometrics with multi-factor authentication and liveness detection can help verify that the user is legitimate, present, and not attempting to use a stolen credential, replayed video, mask, or deepfake. The key is to match authentication strength to the potential impact of fraud. The more sensitive the account, transaction, or data, the more important it is to use multiple independent authentication factors.

5 common authentication types 

Cybercriminals always improve their attacks. As a result, security teams are facing plenty of authentication-related challenges. This is why companies are starting to implement more sophisticated incident response strategies, including authentication as part of the process. The list below reviews some common authentication methods used to secure modern systems. 

1. Password-based authentication 

Passwords are the most common methods of authentication. Passwords can be in the form of a string of letters, numbers, or special characters. To protect yourself, you need to create strong passwords that include a combination of all possible options.  

However, passwords are prone to phishing attacks and poor hygiene, which weaken their effectiveness. According to KnowBe4’s Phishing Threat Trends Report 2025, more than 80% of phishing emails now leverage AI-generated content, making it harder to detect through traditional filters. An average person has about 25 different online accounts, but only 22% of users use different passwords across them.  

The truth is that there are a lot of passwords to remember. As a result, many people choose convenience over security. Most people use simple passwords instead of creating reliable passwords because they are easier to remember.  

The bottom line is that passwords have a lot of weaknesses and are not sufficient in protecting online information. Hackers can easily guess user credentials by running through all possible combinations until they find a match. 

2. Multi-factor authentication 

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that requires two or more independent ways to identify a user. For a deeper look at how MFA and risk-based authentication work together, read Mitek's guide to multi-factor and risk-based authentication. Examples include codes generated by a smartphone, Captcha tests, fingerprints, voice biometrics or facial recognition.  

MFA methods and technologies increase user confidence by adding multiple layers of security. According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), enabling MFA makes accounts 99 % less likely to be hacked. While MFA is a strong defense, it still has pitfalls: people may lose their phones or SIM cards and be unable to generate an authentication code, and attackers can exploit weaker MFA methods like SMS-based codes or push notification fatigue. 

Passkeys are also becoming an important part of modern multi-factor authentication. Built on FIDO2 standards, passkeys use cryptographic credentials stored on a user's device rather than a reusable password. This makes them more resistant to phishing, credential stuffing, and password reuse while giving users a faster sign-in experience.

3. Certificate-based authentication 

Certificate-based authentication technologies identify users, machines, or devices by using digital certificates. A digital certificate is an electronic document based on the idea of a driver’s license or a passport.  

The certificate contains the digital identity of a user, including a public key, and the digital signature of a certification authority. Digital certificates prove ownership of a public key and are issued only by a certification authority.  

Users provide their digital certificates when they sign into a server. The server verifies the credibility of the digital signature and the certificate of authority. The server then uses cryptography to confirm that the user has a correct private key associated with the certificate. 

4. Biometric authentication 

Biometric authentication is a security process that relies on the unique biological characteristics of an individual. Unlike passwords, biometrics can help verify who a user is rather than relying only on something they know or possess. When used as part of a layered authentication strategy, biometrics can reduce friction for legitimate users while making stolen credentials less useful to attackers.

• Biological characteristics can be easily compared to authorized features saved in a database.  
• Biometric authentication can control physical access when installed on gates and doors.  
• You can add biometrics to your multi-factor authentication process. 

To read more about the advantages and disadvantages of biometric authentication, read our dedicated blog post here.  

Biometric authentication technologies are used by consumers, governments, and private corporations, including airports, military bases, and national borders. The technology is increasingly adopted due to the ability to achieve a high level of security without creating friction for the user. Common biometric authentication methods include: 

• Facial recognition matches the different face characteristics of an individual trying to gain access to an approved face stored in a database. Face recognition can be inconsistent when comparing faces at different angles or comparing people who look similar, like close relatives. Facial liveness like Mitek’s passive facial liveness prevents spoofing. 
• Fingerprint scanners match the unique patterns on an individual's fingerprints. Some new versions of fingerprint scanners can even assess the vascular patterns in people's fingers. Fingerprint scanners are currently the most popular biometric technology for everyday consumers, despite their frequent inaccuracies. This popularity can be attributed to iPhones. 
• Speaker recognition, also known as voice biometrics, examines a speaker's speech patterns for the formation of specific shapes and sound qualities. A voice-protected device usually relies on standardized words to identify users, just like a password. 
• Eye scanners include technologies like iris recognition and retina scanners. Iris scanners project a bright light towards the eye and search for unique patterns in the colored ring around the pupil of the eye. The patterns are then compared to approved information stored in a database. Eye-based authentication may suffer inaccuracies if a person wears glasses or contact lenses. 

5. Token-based authentication 

Token-based authentication technologies enable users to enter their credentials once and receive a unique, encrypted string of random characters in exchange. You can then use the token to access protected systems instead of entering your credentials all over again. The digital token proves that you already have access permission. Token-based authentication is commonly used in RESTful APIs accessed by multiple frameworks and clients. 

Single sign-on (SSO) can also simplify authentication across multiple applications. With SSO, users authenticate once through a trusted identity provider and then access approved systems without repeatedly entering credentials. SSO is especially valuable for enterprise environments, but it should be paired with strong MFA and risk-based controls because a compromised SSO session can expose multiple connected applications.

Conclusion 

Passwords alone are no longer enough to protect users, accounts, and sensitive data. The 2025 exposure of more than 16 billion stolen credentials shows how easily attackers can exploit password reuse, phishing, infostealers, and weak authentication practices at scale.

The strongest approach combines authentication methods rather than relying on one control. Multi-factor authentication can help stop credential-based attacks, while biometrics can verify the person behind the login. Adding facial or voice liveness detection provides another critical layer by helping organizations detect spoofing attempts, replay attacks, masks, injected media, and deepfakes.

For organizations managing remote onboarding, high-risk account access, or sensitive transactions, a layered strategy that combines biometrics, MFA, and liveness detection can reduce fraud without creating unnecessary friction for legitimate users. Ready to strengthen your authentication process with biometric identity verification and liveness detection? 

Explore Mitek's identity verification solutions.