The Laws of Identity and Cardspace

Charles YoungSolidsoft

• Embodies Kim Cameron’s ‘Laws of Identity’– Universal identity systems

• Supports the Identity Metasystem

CardSpace

The Identity Meta-what???

• The Identity Meta-system– A single identity ‘fabric’ supported by many

different technologies– A system of systems– …so standards are important here!!

Yes, but what is an identity?

• It’s a list of claims about an entity– Entities….that’s me and you!– My name is Charles– I work for Solidsoft– My email address is….• …well, that would break laws 2 and 3

Law 1: User Control and Consent

• Only reveal information with the user’s consent– It’s their identity, after all

Law 2: Minimal disclosure for a defined use

• Disclose as little identifying information as possible

• Limit the use of identifying information as much as possible

• Helps build stable long-term solutions.

Law 3: Justifiable Parties

• Don’t disclose identifying information to a party that cannot ‘justify’ itself.– All parties must identify themselves– Establish trust relationships

Law 4: Directional Identity

• Omni-directional–Publicly broadcast your identity – ‘Look at me everyone! Here I am. It’s me.’

• Uni-directional–Privately assert your identity– ‘Psst…It’s me. The password is ‘Cardspace’.

Let me in.’• Identity systems must support both.

Law 5: Pluralism of operators and technologies

• If it’s Microsoft-only, its useless!• …but seriously…– The Identity meta-system MUST NOT be

bound to proprietary solutions and technologies–Different cultures–Different contexts

Law 6: Human Integration

• Humans are first-class components if the identity meta-system (duh)

• Unambiguous human-machine communication

• Machines don’t attack you – humans do.

Law 7: Consistent experience across contexts

• ‘Thingify’ your identities• Consistency shines the spotlight on attackers

Cardspace Actors: Subjects

SubjectsIndividuals and other entities about whom claims are made

Cardspace Actors: Relying Parties

Relying PartiesRequire identities

SubjectsIndividuals and other entities about whom claims are made

Cardspace Actors: Identity Providers

Relying PartiesRequire identities

SubjectsIndividuals and other entities about whom claims are made

Identity ProvidersIssue identities

• Reason over your identities• Smart selection

The Cardspace Identity Selector

Service Provider Requests Identity

CardSpace Identity Selector pops up

Token is built by Identity Selector(with Identity Provider)

Token sent to client

Output sent to client

The Cardspace Logon process

Contains self-asserted claims about meStored locallyUse instead of username/password

SELF - ISSUED

Information Card Types

Provided by banks, stores, government, clubs, etc.Claims stored at Identity Provider and sent only when card submitted

MANAGED

Information Card Types

• Cards contain metadata only!• Cardspace can handle any claims tokens– SAML tokens are most common

• Cardspace uses WS-* standards

Cards and standards

Call to action

• Cardspace-enable your web sites– Relying parties

• Invest in Secure Token Server technology– Identity providers

• Spread the word.