Как сравнить пароли? - Joomla 3.x: Общие вопросы

<?php
define('_JEXEC', 1);
define('JPATH_BASE', dirname(__FILE__));

require_once (JPATH_BASE . '/includes/defines.php');
require_once (JPATH_BASE . '/includes/framework.php');

$app = JFactory::getApplication('site');
$username = $app->input->get('username');
$password = $app->input->get('password');

$user = authenticateUser($username, $password);
die(var_dump($user));

function authenticateUser($username, $password)
{
    $admin_group_id = 10;
    jimport('joomla.user.authentication');
    $auth = JAuthentication::getInstance();
    $credentials = array(
        'username' => $username,
        'password' => $password
    );
    $options = array();
    $response = $auth->authenticate($credentials, $options);

    if ($response->status !== 1) {
        die($response->error_message);
    }

    $user = JUser::getInstance(JUserHelper::getUserId($username));
    if (! in_array($admin_group_id, $user->groups)) {
        die('Не достаточно прав у пользователя');
    }

    return $user;
}