Microsoft,Passport,amp,#63,Goo technology Microsoft Passport? Good or Bad for the Internet&
The electronic cigarette is not new. People who buy electronic cigarette knows that this product has been in the market for years now. Despite some sectors apparently trying to shoot the product down from the shelves, the popularity of elect Active shredder safety technology for the small office. Shreds 15sheets per pass into 5/32" x 1-1/2" cross-cut particles (Security Level3). Patented SafeSense® Technology stops shredding when hands touch thepaper opening. Designated shredde
If you are anything like me, you've got dozens or even hundreds of accountsspread all over the internet (and the planet, for that matter). Each accounthas a different username and password combination, which adds up to one bigheadache, trying to keep it all straight.I am aware of security, so I tend to create a different username andpassword for each and every account. This makes it impossible for amalicious person to break into one account and thus get the information fromall of my accounts.Most people do not go through this much trouble. In fact, most people simplycreate all of their usernames as their own first and last name (perhaps witha number to make it unique) and use very simple, and easily guessed,passwords.Microsoft has now come along and proposed a solution to this situation.Well, proposed is not the right word - Microsoft is implementing a solution.It's actually a key component of their .NET strategy.What they are doing is creating a "passport", called "Microsoft passport",which is more or less intended to become the standard way of gaining accessto objects and information on the internet.The concept is very simple indeed. You merely create a passport account andgive it a unique username (your email address). You also give it a password.>From that point forward, you can use the exact same username and password toaccess anything which supports passports (everything on a Microsoft website, at the least).So far this is no different than any other account identifier. For example,on Yahoo you create a Yahoo ID, which can be used to access any featureoperated by that company. Excite has something similar as do many other websites.What is different about passports is the intention to turn it into astandard to access everything on the internet. Microsoft also intended touse passports as a centerpiece to it's .NET initiative - passports will bethe focus of it's security model.What's wrong with this picture? Conceptually, it is actually a good idea.Passports have the capability to enforce a security standard across theentire internet, and Microsoft has the muscle and staying power to make itwork. Lord knows it will be convenient to be able to log into hundreds ofdifferent sites using the same username and password. This sure will makelife easier for a lot of people.On the other hand, as demonstrated by the more than 45 security alertsreleased by Microsoft in the first two-thirds of 2001, this company is notwell known for it's attention to security. In fact, Microsoft is directlyresponsible for two of the worst security issues on the internet today: CodeRed and it's variants, and email worms such as Melissa and SirCam.Steve Gibson, author of the fabulous website Grc.com, makes the followingcomment:"With a bit of horror, I learned that Microsoft's developers have nounderstanding of security."If that doesn't send a shiver down your spine, I don't know what will. Now,do you really want these people to be in charge of the security of your bankaccount, medical records and dozens or even hundreds of other records?So what should you do? Personally, I am concerned about Microsoft's obviouslack of security knowledge, and I do not want to trust them with my personaldata. Thus, I will not be using anything "protected" by passport, unless itis absolutely necessary. I just have too many questions and concerns notonly about privacy, but about the safety of my personal information fromcriminals, terrorists and other evil-doers.To see a list of article available for reprint, you can send anemail to: mailto:[email protected]?subject=send_article_listor visit http://internet-tips.net/requestarticles.htm
Microsoft,Passport,amp,#63,Goo