Comments on: Microsoft pitches InfoCard for businesses

New technology in Windows Vista can bring down access management barriers, according to Microsoft.

[Hep Cat]

Daear businesses:

We've come up with a fabulous new Microsoft-only technology
that solves a problem that doesn't exist. In fact, there are plenty
of products that do a better job of solving real, existing
problems using proven technology, but our new, unproven
"solution" has a great logo that meshes nicely with the Windows
color scheme.

The tech press and our sales force will ***** Infocard up and
down to make sure your competitors are buying it - at the same
time they're making your competitors think you're buying it. And
once you've all signed contracts, we'll ship the 1.0!

Next, you'll see the exciting evolution of Infocard technology, to
Infocard 2.0 - in about four years. But it'll only work with
Windows Vista 2. And after that, we'll kill Inforcard.

So c'mon - get on the SmartMicrosftInfoboondoggleCard
Bandwagon! It can't be any worse than any of our other trial
balloons!

Sincerely,

Microsoft

P.S. Where do you want it inserted today?

[imacpwr]

InfoCard potential security breach..??

Quote: "individuals in an organization could grant access to
outsiders without having to involve the IT department"
A work around to cut out the system admin? hmmm.. Sounds to me
like a(nother) security breach in M$ Widows..!!

[rcrusoe]

Great idea, bring it on

Every time Microsoft "innovates" something to eliminate the
need of I.T. support, they create a new set of problems which
actually increases the amount of required support. As an long
time I.T. manager I think this is great.

MS Windows is "The I.T. Worker's Full Employment Act".

As long as Windows is the dominant OS in business, we'll have a
job. Unfortunately, it looks like Linux and OS X is continuing to
gain marketshare. If that continues we could be in trouble.

[dmitry76]

InfoCard

Actually it is not a work around but rather a natural evolution ... if you wish. InfoCard will work similar to how Kerberos authentication works, i.e. it will contain an encrypted token. Decryption of which will be done by a third party. In other words it is a type of brokered authetication, which I am sure you will agree is much more secure (and in fact easier to use) than a regular user-name/password.

[Hep Cat]

Re: InfoCard

"I am sure you will agree is much more secure (and in fact easier
to use) than a regular user-name/password."

It's also got several more points of failure. If I forget my
password, secure means of resetting it are available - but I don't
forget my password. Microsoft wants businesses to count on
technology that has points of failure among three parties? This
proposal, from a company that has proven time, and time again
that they don't understand the difference between security and
marketing?

Sorry, I'm not buying it.