Method and apparatus for user authentication

A method for user authentication, comprising:

• receiving, at an authentication server, an authentication request from a device associated with a user, the authentication request at least comprising property information of the device;
• generating first authentication information in response to the authentication request, the first authentication information being for use in authentication of the user;
• encoding the property information and the first authentication information into an image for transmission to the device;
• and
• receiving the first authentication information decoded from the image and second authentication information associated with the user for the authentication.

An apparatus for user authentication, comprising:

• a reading unit configured to read an image from a device associated with a user, the image being generated at an authentication server in response to an authentication request received from the device and being sent to the device;
• a decoding unit configured to decode, from the image, property information of the device and first authentication information generated at the authentication server;
• an obtaining unit configured to obtain second authentication information associated with the user;
• and
• a sending unit configured to send the first and second authentication information to the authentication server for authentication of the user.