Uncle Sam Wants You to Have an Online ID

Fox News Business ^ | July 02, 2010 | Jay Bavisi co-founder of the EC-Council

[nmh]

As our daily interactions and transactions have become increasingly “wired,” we have yet to see any truly comprehensive attempts at securing online identities.

Our complex system of usernames and passwords is astoundingly outdated and increasingly prone to security breaches and theft. Yet, so far it has been mostly up to the individual to protect himself against various forms of identity fraud—with larger corporations taking relatively little responsibility.

But this could change in a big way. Right now the federal government is proposing a new system being referred to as the “Identity Ecosystem”—which was highlighted in the recently-released draft paper, “National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace” [NSTIC].

The Identity Ecosystem would allow Americans to choose to obtain a single authenticated ID for online transactions. Like a passport, this single ID could travel with them online and be used to access everything from e-mail, to online health records and banking information. Furthermore, the Identity Ecosystem would only reveal the least amount of information necessary for each transaction.

To highlight the potential consumer benefits of such a system, the White House’s proposal uses the example of an individual filling a prescription online. Under the “smart ID card,” the pharmacy would only receive proof that the individual is over 18 and that the prescription is valid. No other information like birth date or the reason for the prescription.

[FreePaul]

This seems to me just another way for the criminals, including those in government, of gaining more control over people.

[EGPWS]

You have to do this stuff INCREMENTALLY and have people believe it is for THEIR best interests.

Like Social Security and a retirement in your name only attached to a private number to be used for Social Security Administration purposes only?

[null and void]

That’s NatC’s

National Civilian Community Corps = NCCC = NatC’s...

[NTHockey]

The biggest cause of identity theft and fraud is the federal government. Despite what it says on the card itself, Social Security cards are used in every phase of our life as identification. The military stopped using serial number and replaced them with SS #. That number is on every travel order, transfer, promotion and discharge. What happens when a member of the armed forces retires or is discharged? His SS# might as well have been posted on the internet for all the good it does.

And if that is not enough, SS # are used as identification on W-2’s, I-9’s, state tax forms, incorporation papers, tax returns, etc. How can any system be secure if we are giving away the keys to the vault?

[Mike Acker]

Online Identification — Careful Consideration needed

Under some circumstances you should use an online identity and this would be for any commercial business— online shopping, paying bills, etc

Under other circumstances anonymity is important. Any time that you wish to express a viewpoint on an issue you will have those for and those against.

it doesn’t matter what your viewpoint is this will be true

it is also true that here in these united States we honor your right to express yourself

and that without being attacked — by the government, or any other group or individuals

in an ideal society you would not be attacked for expressing your views

but no such ideal societies have ever existed, or ever will exist

as a result it is important that we all be allowed to use a nom de plume when expressing our views over the public net

[nmh]

“Like Social Security and a retirement in your name only attached to a private number to be used for Social Security Administration purposes only? “

Yeah ... something like that and it will work out just as well. Only with this it will be ONLINE and infringe on your freedom of speech and be a hackers paradise.

[Kudsman]

SO THEY CAN TAX THEM!

And when they do, everyone with old monitors/towers etc. should travel to D.C. and dump them on the capital steps. Masked and under cover of darkness of course! Or dressed as Indians!

[Oceander]

Indeed. Which means that it's time to start investing in onion routers, and making sure that an infrastructure of onion routers is maintained that the government cannot get rid of - offshore would be a good place to locate 'em.

Just for the uninitiated, an onion routing is:

"a flexible communications infrastructure that is resistant to both eavesdropping and traffic analysis. Onion routing accomplishes this goal by separating identification from routing. Connections are always anonymous, although communication need not be. Communication may be made anonymous by removing identifying information from the data stream. Onion routing can be used by a variety of unmodified Internet applications by means of proxies (non-invasive procedure) or by modifying the network protocol stack on a machine to be connected to the network (moderate or highly-invasive procedure)."

See Onion Routing, Executive Summary

[nmh]

Shhhhhhh!

THINKING and SPEAKING about it online will NOT be allowed with your online ID.

[nmh]

Shhhhhhh!

THINKING and SPEAKING about it online will NOT be allowed with your online ID.

[Soothesayer]

Won’t matter. They’ll pass it anyway. Democrats think we are a communist country. They really scary part is that Americans let them make their dream a reality.

The American dream is already done for. There is nothing left to “protect”. We need to rebuild the country once the fascists have been driven out or exterminated. This may take centuries just to begin.

[nmh]

Yes, yes and our OLINE consumer transactions using credit cards are HACKED more frequently than credit card companies admit to. Now, extend that to MORE areas and see what you get!

[Pablo64]

"Are we getting closer to George Orwell's 1984?"

With every tick of the clock...

[MarineBrat]

Is this that thing where our glassed jawed cowardly mack daddy who occupies the White House won’t have to keep looking for me to answer my challenge to a duel?

[gundog]

They always try to sell supposed benefits as a reason to track you.

Give people enough apps on their phones and they're more than happy to carry their own personal lo jack. Everybody in Oregon was wondering why police were searching a certain area for Kyron Horman when it was seemingly unconnected by physical evidence. Dollars to doughnuts, his step-mom's cell phone placed her there.

[freeangel]

“Whats the cost if China hacks in and steals all the info?”

Just thinking the same thing—the feds can’t protect themselves from hackers and they want us to trust them?

[puppypusher]

Implement that program and the government gets the keys to your kingdom.

[EBH]

Universal ID: Going beyond smart cards & databases

[RedMDer]

Mark of the Beast

[Mark was here]

Is this for the children?