Authentication documentation
Authenticate securely to GitHub with passwords, tokens, SSH keys, and more—and keep your account protected.
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About authentication to GitHub
You can securely access your account's resources by authenticating to GitHub, using different credentials depending on where you authenticate.
Connecting to GitHub with SSH
You can connect to GitHub using the Secure Shell Protocol (SSH), which provides a secure channel over an unsecured network.
Managing commit signature verification
GitHub will verify GPG, SSH, or S/MIME signatures so other people will know that your commits come from a trusted source. GitHub will automatically sign commits you make using the web interface.
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About anonymized URLs
If you upload an image or video to GitHub, the URL of the image or video will be modified so your information is not trackable.
About authentication to GitHub
You can securely access your account's resources by authenticating to GitHub, using different credentials depending on where you authenticate.
About commit signature verification
Using GPG, SSH, or S/MIME, you can sign tags and commits locally. These tags or commits are marked as verified on GitHub so other people can be confident that the changes come from a trusted source.
About GitHub's IP addresses
GitHub serves applications from multiple IP address ranges, which are available using the API.
About mandatory two-factor authentication
Enable mandatory two-factor authentication to secure your account and maintain access to GitHub.com.
About passkeys
Passkeys allow you to sign in safely and easily, without requiring a password and two-factor authentication.
About SSH
Using the SSH protocol, you can connect and authenticate to remote servers and services. With SSH keys, you can connect to GitHub without supplying your username and personal access token at each visit. You can also use an SSH key to sign commits.
About two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an extra layer of security used when logging into websites or apps. With 2FA, you have to log in with your username and password and provide another form of authentication that only you know or have access to.
Accessing GitHub using two-factor authentication
With 2FA enabled, you'll be asked to provide your 2FA authentication code, as well as your password, when you sign in to GitHub.