What is a method for confirming users' identities?

Authorization occurs after authentication and involves granting or denying access rights to users based on their identity. While it is an important part of the security process, it does not itself confirm a user's identity; rather, it determines what an authenticated user is allowed to do within a system.

Public key encryption is a cryptographic method used to secure data transmission by encrypting information with a public key that can only be decrypted by a corresponding private key. This technology ensures the confidentiality of data but does not directly verify the identity of users; it mainly protects data integrity and privacy.

Information secrecy refers to the protection of sensitive information from unauthorized access or disclosure. While it is a crucial aspect of data security, it does not involve the process of verifying user identities, which is the primary focus of authentication.