The type of Authentication

Forms authentication:

A system by which unauthenticated requests are redirected so an HTML form using HTTP client-side redirection. The user provides credentials and submits the form. If the application authenticates the request, the system issues a cookier that contains the credentials or a key for reacquiring the identity. Subsequent requests are issuesd with the cookie in the request headers; they are authenticated and authorized by an ASP.NET event handler using whatever validation method the application developer specities.

Passport authentication:

Centralized authentication service provided by Microsoft that offers a single logon and core profile services for member sites.

Windows authentication:

ASP.NET uses Windows authentication in conjunction withh Microsoft internet information services(IIS) in one of three ways: basic, digest, or integrated Windows Authentication. When IIS authentication is complete, ASP.NET uses the authenticated identity to authorize access.