5 Advanced User Authentication Methods to Prevent Fraud in 2025

Discover 5 effective user authentication methods for 2025, including multi-factor authentication, biometrics, behavioral biometrics, risk-based authentication, and passwordless solutions. Learn how these methods can enhance security while improving user experience.

Once you've built a secure system and implemented the right protocols, your organization's security posture can reach new heights — and it's just as crucial to focus on continuously improving your user authentication processes as it is to combat emerging threats.
That’s where advanced authentication methods come into play — to ensure users can securely access their accounts while keeping fraudsters at bay.
But it's more than just adding extra layers of protection — it’s about designing a seamless authentication experience that enhances security without hindering usability, while staying ahead of increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts.
Explore this guide to discover the top authentication methods for 2025 — how they work, why they’re critical, and how to effectively implement them to keep your users safe.

1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) has become one of the most reliable authentication methods over the past few years and will continue to be a primary defense against fraud in 2025. MFA requires users to present two or more verification factors to gain access to an account or system. These factors typically fall into three categories:

• Something you know (e.g., a password or PIN)
• Something you have (e.g., a smartphone, security token, or smart card)
• Something you are (e.g., a fingerprint, retina scan, or voice recognition)

Expert Analysis: MFA is particularly effective because it adds layers of security, making it much harder for fraudsters to gain access even if they know the user’s password. However, it's important to strike the right balance between security and convenience. Over-complicating the authentication process can lead to user frustration, so it’s crucial to choose factors that make sense for your user base.
Practical Implementation Example: Let’s say your company offers a mobile app where users manage financial transactions. You can implement MFA by requiring users to input their password (something they know), followed by a one-time password (OTP) sent via SMS (something they have). To further strengthen security, users could opt for biometric authentication (something they are), such as fingerprint or facial recognition.

2.Biometric Authentication

Biometric authentication uses unique physical characteristics of the user to verify their identity. Common examples include fingerprint scans, facial recognition, iris scanning, and voice recognition. By 2025, biometric authentication is expected to be more accurate, faster, and widely adopted due to advancements in AI and machine learning algorithms.
Expert Analysis: Biometrics offer a level of security that traditional methods like passwords cannot match. It’s difficult to replicate someone’s fingerprint, voice, or facial structure, making it harder for fraudsters to impersonate legitimate users. Moreover, biometrics streamline the authentication process by offering a convenient, fast alternative to remembering complex passwords.
However, biometric data is inherently sensitive, which means organizations must ensure the data is stored securely and encrypted to prevent data breaches. Furthermore, there should be alternatives in place for users who cannot use biometrics (e.g., individuals with disabilities or privacy concerns).
Practical Implementation Example: Imagine a banking application that implements facial recognition as part of its authentication process. After a user logs in with their password, they are prompted to verify their identity by scanning their face using their smartphone’s front-facing camera. This method can significantly reduce the risk of account takeover, as facial features are much harder to duplicate than passwords.

3. Behavioral Biometrics

Behavioral biometrics refers to the continuous monitoring of a user’s unique behavioral patterns to assess the likelihood that the person interacting with the system is the authorized user. This includes tracking things like typing speed, mouse movements, and the way users swipe on their mobile devices.
Expert Analysis: Unlike traditional authentication methods, which require users to authenticate at a specific moment, behavioral biometrics operates in the background, continuously analyzing user behavior for signs of fraud. Fraudsters may gain access to a user’s account, but their behavior will likely differ from the genuine user’s established patterns. This makes it an excellent tool for detecting and preventing fraud in real-time.
Behavioral biometrics, when used in conjunction with other authentication methods like MFA, can create a seamless and highly secure experience for users. Additionally, because it’s non-intrusive, it won’t disrupt the user journey but will still provide valuable protection.
Practical Implementation Example: In an online gaming platform, behavioral biometrics can be used to monitor how players interact with the game and its interface. If a fraudster takes over an account, their mouse movements or typing patterns would likely differ significantly from the original player’s. In such cases, the system could flag the activity and prompt additional verification before allowing further access.

4. Risk-Based Authentication (RBA)

Risk-based authentication (RBA), also known as adaptive authentication, evaluates the risk level of a login attempt based on various factors such as the user’s location, device, and time of access. If the system determines the login attempt is from a known device and location, it may only require a simple password or PIN. However, if the system detects unusual behavior (e.g., logging in from a new device or a different geographical location), it may prompt the user for additional verification.
Expert Analysis: RBA is an intelligent authentication method that adapts to the context of each login attempt. It helps reduce friction for users by only requesting additional authentication when there’s a genuine risk. This is particularly important for preventing account takeovers and fraud while ensuring legitimate users can quickly access their accounts without unnecessary steps.
One challenge of RBA is ensuring that the system accurately evaluates risk without producing false positives (e.g., mistakenly flagging legitimate user behavior as suspicious).
Machine learning models that are trained on large datasets can help improve the accuracy of risk assessments over time.
Practical Implementation Example: A customer attempts to log in to their e-commerce account while traveling abroad. The system identifies this as an unusual location and prompts the user for a one-time passcode sent to their registered email or mobile device. If the login is from the usual device and location, the system may simply ask for the password.

5. Passwordless Authentication

Passwordless authentication is becoming increasingly popular as it eliminates the need for users to remember or enter passwords altogether. Instead, users authenticate through alternative methods such as magic links (one-time-use links sent via email or SMS), biometrics, or hardware security keys.
Expert Analysis: The rise of passwordless authentication comes in response to the growing security concerns around password management. Passwords are often reused, weak, or stolen in data breaches, making them a major vulnerability. Passwordless authentication methods are designed to minimize these risks by leveraging something the user has (e.g., a smartphone) or something they are (e.g., a fingerprint).
While passwordless authentication significantly reduces the risks associated with traditional passwords, it also requires users to have access to the required authentication factors (such as a smartphone for a magic link or a biometric reader). This method also requires proper implementation to ensure secure communication channels for the magic link or authentication code.
Practical Implementation Example: A company may adopt passwordless authentication for its internal systems, where employees receive a magic link via email every time they attempt to log in. They simply click on the link, which grants them instant access without the need to remember complex passwords.

Final Words

While there are many approaches to securing user accounts, the most important is this: Always prioritize both security and user experience.
Trust us, you can build a robust defense against fraud while keeping your users happy and engaged if you focus on implementing the right authentication methods that make sense for your audience.
And remember, the more you streamline security without compromising safety, the more users will trust your platform and feel confident in accessing their accounts with ease.