Which authentication method verifies identity based on a device's characteristics?

Biometric authentication is an identity verification method that relies on the unique biological characteristics of an individual. This can include fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, and voice recognition, among others. The primary strength of biometric authentication lies in its reliance on physical traits that are inherently tied to the person, making it difficult for others to replicate or forge.

This method does not require something the person knows (like a password) or has (like a token or card), but instead uses the individual's own body as the authentication factor. This inherently increases security, as replicating a biometric characteristic is significantly more complex than guessing a password or stealing a token.

While password authentication relies on user knowledge, multi-factor authentication combines multiple methods to enhance security, and attestation focuses on confirming the integrity of devices and systems, none of these rely solely on physiological traits for identity verification like biometric authentication does. Thus, fingerprinting, voice, or facial recognition directly validates identity based on the person's inherent characteristics, establishing biometric authentication as the correct choice.