Logging On

Why Trust Techopedia

What Does Logging On?

Logging on is a security measure that is enforced before allowing users to gain access to a computer system, a network, an email account or a restricted area of a website. The procedure typically requires users to provide identification information such as a username or email. It is also the simplest way to protect a system from outsiders.

Advertisements

Logging on is also known as logging in, signing in and signing on.

Techopedia Logging On

In order for users to gain entry to a restricted system, they must first log on with specific information, which can be one or a combination of the following:

  • User name and a password
  • Public key infrastructure certificate
  • Token
  • Biometric information

For additional security, some systems require a two-step authentication, which requires obtaining additional information from the users, such as answers to some personal questions. As a precautionary measure, some websites such as those of banks automatically log out a user if he/she is inactive for a considerable time.

Advertisements

Related Terms

Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.