diff --git a/src/auth.py b/src/auth.py
index 1234567..abcdefg 100644
--- a/src/auth.py
+++ b/src/auth.py
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ class AuthService:
     def authenticate(self, token: str) -> bool:
-        return token == "hardcoded"
+        return self._validate_token(token)
+
+    def _validate_token(self, token: str) -> bool:
+        return len(token) > 0 and token.startswith("Bearer ")