This is a guest blog post from VeriSign UK, a Get Safe Online sponsor.
Passwords are not perfect when it comes to keeping your identity safe online. Too many people use the same password for different websites or choose weak passwords that hackers and their software can easily guess.
Choosing strong passwords is always a good idea but perhaps there is a better alternative. OpenID is, as the name suggests, an open standard for authentication. It replaces the traditional user name and password with a digital identity backed up by a choice systems to prove that you are who you say you.
It has several benefits. It’s easier to use. You don’t have to share your password with every Tom, Dick and Harry on the internet. And, it’s easier than keeping track of dozens of different password for different sites.
Millions of sites allow you to login using OpenID, including PayPal, eBay, Yahoo!, Google, Facebook, AOL and others.
Many companies provide OpenID credentials. One option is VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP). VeriSign lets you create your own OpenID digital identity and offers a range of different ways to identify yourself. These include a VIP Access Toolbar for your browser, free software for your smartphone that generates one-time passwords as well as advanced cryptographic tokens.
So, next time you struggle to remember a password, get frustrated at filling in another registration form or (if you are unlucky) fall victim to identity theft, why not try out OpenID instead?
