White House releases trusted Internet ID plan

White House releases trusted Internet ID plan
Computerworld ^ | 16 April, 2011 03:20 | Grant Gross (IDG News Service)

Posted on Sunday, April 17, 2011 7:08:47 PM by newzjunkey

The U.S. government will coordinate private-sector efforts to create trusted identification systems for the Internet, with the goal of giving consumers and businesses multiple options for authenticating identity online, according to a plan released by President Barack Obama's administration.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will work with private companies to drive development and adoption of trusted ID technologies, White House officials said. The National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC), released by the Department of Commerce on Friday, aims to protect the privacy and security of Internet users by encouraging a broad online authentication market in the U.S.

"The fact is that the old password and username combination we often use to verify people is no longer good enough," Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said at an NSTIC release event hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "It leaves too many consumers, government agencies and businesses vulnerable to ID and data theft."...
The trusted ID technologies described in NSTIC would allow online users to dump passwords in favor of credentials that can be used on multiple websites. The Obama administration hopes that multiple trusted ID technologies will emerge, officials said.
Consumer participation in trusted ID technologies will be voluntary, they added.
NIST will host three workshops starting in June to focus on problems with development and adoption of online ID authentication technologies, Obama administration officials said...

(Excerpt) Read more at computerworld.com.au ...