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Microsoft: We're Developing Blockchain ID System Starting With Our Authenticator App (zdnet.com)

Microsoft has revealed its plans to use blockchain distributed-ledger technologies to securely store and manage digital identities, starting with an experiment using the Microsoft Authenticator app. From a report: Microsoft reckons the technology holds promise as a superior alternative to people granting consent to dozens of apps and services and having their identity data spread across multiple providers. It highlights that with the existing model people don't have control over their identity data and are left exposed to data breaches and identity theft. Instead, people could store, control and access their identity in an encrypted digital hub, Microsoft explained. To achieve this goal, Microsoft has for the past year been incubating ideas for using blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies to create new types of decentralized digital identities.

2 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. How do you know a trend is over? by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

    Either when mainstream media starts reporting about it or when MS starts to develop for it.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. ELI5 -- why are blockchains relevant here? by ctilsie242 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Blockchains are relevant for ledgers and logs (basically a secure utmp/wtmp). However, for authentication, it really doesn't help much.

    Instead, MS would be better off designing an open protocol like RFC 6238 or RFC 4226, except using public/private keys as opposed to shared secrets, and having an open authenticator app for this.