Which of the following can be used to authenticate someone?

The use of an iris pattern for authentication relies on biometric technology, which evaluates unique physical characteristics of an individual for verification purposes. Iris recognition is a highly secure method because it analyzes the intricate patterns found in the colored ring around the pupil of the eye, which are distinct and difficult to replicate. This form of authentication is considered highly accurate and provides strong assurance of identity.

In comparison, social security numbers, while historically used for identification, can be easily guessed or stolen, rendering them less secure. Fingerprint scans also offer a form of biometric authentication, though they may not be as secure as iris patterns due to the possibility of prints being replicated or false positives occurring. Password strength is crucial for security, but it is dependent on the user creating and maintaining a strong password, which can easily be compromised through phishing, guessing, or data breaches. Thus, the iris pattern stands out as a highly secure and effective method for authenticating an individual's identity.