Microsoft developing new identification system for Operating Systems

Microsoft is doing it again. Inventing a new way we identify ourselves to our machines. It is working on a new identification system for Windows Operating System. This is planned to beef up security into the logging in system of the upcoming versions to give users more control over the information stored on the system. They call it “info-cards” which would allow the users to control access to the sensitive information required in making online transactions and accessing web related services.

The company has however not clarified whether the same info-cards mechanism would be ported to Windows XP or Windows 2000 Operating System. In addition, the software giant is also working on a new (and secure as Microsoft likes to say) version of the Internet Explorer which would come with Longhorn and some of the existing operating systems.

Identity theft and Phishing is becoming a nuisance for the users of these web applications and Microsoft in their latest avatar are working hard at making the software secure for the end user. In addition, the logic behind the latest developments in the identification system is to make it simpler for the user to manage their personal information stored on the computer.

This is the third major effort from the company to manage user information. Earlier two efforts being Passport and Hailstorm. Hailstorm was a disaster with Privacy advocates leading to its demise. While, Microsoft sometime ago stopped promoting Passport after many big names stopped using its facilities.