A method for identity authentication, the method comprising: selecting a predetermined amount of fingerprint information from a user's plurality of recorded fingerprints; outputting, in a predetermined fingerprint recognition sequence or in a random recognition sequence, fingerprint input prompt information based on fingerprint identification information, the fingerprint input prompt information corresponding to the selected predetermined amount of fingerprint information, wherein the fingerprint input prompt information is used to prompt the user to successively enter fingerprint information corresponding to the fingerprint identification information; receiving (102, 205) a predetermined amount of fingerprint information successively entered by the user based on the fingerprint input prompt information, the received predetermined amount of fingerprint information pertaining to a plurality of received fingerprints of the user; matching (103, 206) the received predetermined amount of fingerprint information against the selected predetermined amount of fingerprint information, wherein matching (103, 206) comprises successively matching each fingerprint information entered in response to a prompt request against a corresponding fingerprint of the selected predetermined amount of fingerprint information; confirming (104, 207) that identity authentication succeeds when the received predetermined amount of fingerprint information matches the selected predetermined amount of fingerprint information, wherein confirming (104, 207) comprises confirming that identity authentication succeeds when each fingerprint information entered in response to the prompt request successively matches a corresponding recorded fingerprint of the selected predetermined amount of fingerprint information, before next fingerprint information to be entered is prompted; and prompting an identity authentication failure if a current fingerprint information of the fingerprint information entered in response to a current prompt request does not match a corresponding fingerprint of the selected predetermined fingerprint information. selecting a predetermined amount of fingerprint information from a user's plurality of recorded fingerprints; outputting, in a predetermined fingerprint recognition sequence or in a random recognition sequence, fingerprint input prompt information based on fingerprint identification information, the fingerprint input prompt information corresponding to the selected predetermined amount of fingerprint information, wherein the fingerprint input prompt information is used to prompt the user to successively enter fingerprint information corresponding to the fingerprint identification information; receiving (102, 205) a predetermined amount of fingerprint information successively entered by the user based on the fingerprint input prompt information, the received predetermined amount of fingerprint information pertaining to a plurality of received fingerprints of the user; matching (103, 206) the received predetermined amount of fingerprint information against the selected predetermined amount of fingerprint information, wherein matching (103, 206) comprises successively matching each fingerprint information entered in response to a prompt request against a corresponding fingerprint of the selected predetermined amount of fingerprint information; confirming (104, 207) that identity authentication succeeds when the received predetermined amount of fingerprint information matches the selected predetermined amount of fingerprint information, wherein confirming (104, 207) comprises confirming that identity authentication succeeds when each fingerprint information entered in response to the prompt request successively matches a corresponding recorded fingerprint of the selected predetermined amount of fingerprint information, before next fingerprint information to be entered is prompted; and prompting an identity authentication failure if a current fingerprint information of the fingerprint information entered in response to a current prompt request does not match a corresponding fingerprint of the selected predetermined fingerprint information.