A user authentication method for access to a mobile user terminal including one or more movement sensor supplying information on movements of the mobile terminal, includes authenticating a user on the basis of a movement performed handling the mobile terminal. A test pattern of values is sensed by one or more movement sensor related to a movement performed in a predetermined condition corresponding to an action for operating the mobile terminal. In a biometric recognition phase the acquired test pattern is compared to a stored pattern of values obtained from the one or more movement sensor by a training phase executed by an accepted user performing the action for operating the mobile terminal. The comparison includes measuring a similarity of the acquired test pattern to stored pattern. An authentication result is obtained by comparing the measured similarity to a threshold.