Games - InfoCard

	Games - InfoCard

InfoCard is software component which securely stores digital identities of a person, and provides an unified interface for choosing the identity for a particular transaction, such as logging in to a website. InfoCard is a central part of the Microsoft effort to create a metaidentity system, or an unified, secure and interoperable identity layer for the Internet. Microsoft plans to include InfoCard in future products like Windows Vista and Internet Explorer 7.

When an InfoCard-enabled application or website wishes to obtain personal information about the user, the InfoCard software takes over the display of the computer and represents the stored identities as virtual information cards. The user selects the card to use and the InfoCard software contacts the issuer of the identity to obtain a digitally signed XML document that contains the requested information.

The InfoCard software allows the users to create self-signed identities for themselves, which can, for example, replace the need to remember usernames and passwords to log in to websites. Other transactions may require a certified identity issued by a trusted identity provider, such as a bank or a governamental agency.

InfoCard is built on top of Web Services Protocol Stack, an arguably open set of technologies, including WS-Trust. InfoCard competes with other Internet identity architectures like YADIS and Liberty Alliance, though in some ways the three standards can be seen as complementary. In February 2006, IBM and Novell announced that they will back Higgins trust framework to provide an alternative to InfoCard, effectively creating a new, direct competitor.

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