A user authentication method and terminal, where the method includes acquiring an authentication interaction object and an interference interaction object where the authentication interaction object is a real interaction object stored in a terminal, the interference interaction object is a virtual interaction object constructed by the terminal, and the interference interaction object has a similar feature with the authentication interaction object to cause interference to a user when the user is selecting the authentication interaction object, displaying the authentication interaction object and the interference interaction object in an authentication interface for the user to select from, receiving a selection result and determining whether the selection result is the authentication interaction object, and determining, when the selection result is the authentication interaction object, that authentication succeeds.