About Lesson
Cryptography in Authentication and Identity Verification
Cryptography is critical for verifying user identities and securing authentication mechanisms.
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Password Hashing:
- Passwords are not stored directly but are hashed using cryptographic algorithms like bcrypt, PBKDF2, or Argon2. This ensures that even if a database is compromised, raw passwords are not exposed.
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Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
- Combines cryptographic tokens with other authentication factors, such as biometrics or passwords, to enhance security.
- Examples include time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) generated by apps like Google Authenticator.
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Digital Certificates:
- Issued by Certificate Authorities (CAs), digital certificates use cryptographic signatures to verify the authenticity of websites, software, and systems.
- They are a core component of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).