U-Prove Explained

U-Prove
Author:Credentica
Developer:Microsoft
Programming Language:C#, JavaScript
Platform:Cross-platform
Genre:Identity management
License:Apache License 2.0

U-Prove is a free and open-source[1] technology and accompanying software development kit[2] for user-centric identity management. The underlying cryptographic protocols were designed by Dr. Stefan Brands[3] and further developed by Credentica and, subsequently, Microsoft.[4] The technology was developed to allow internet users to disclose only the minimum amount of personal data when making electronic transactions as a way to reduce the likelihood of privacy violations.[5]

Overview

U-Prove enables application developers to reconcile seemingly conflicting security and privacy objectives (including anonymity), and allows for digital identity claims to be efficiently tied to the use of tamper-resistant devices such as smart cards. Application areas of particular interest include cross-domain enterprise identity and access management, e-government SSO and data sharing, electronic health records, anonymous electronic voting, policy-based digital rights management, social networking data portability, and electronic payments.

In 2008, Microsoft committed to opening up the U-Prove technology. As the first step, in March 2010 the company released a cryptographic specification and open-source API implementation code for part of the U-Prove technology as a Community Technology Preview under Microsoft's Open Specification Promise.[6] Since then, several extensions have been released under the same terms and the technology has been tested in real-life applications.

In 2010, the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) honored U-Prove with the 2010 Privacy Innovation Award for Technology.[7] [8]

Microsoft also won the in European Identity Award in the Best Innovation category for U-Prove at the European Identity Conference 2010.[9]

The U-Prove Crypto SDK for C# is licensed under Apache License 2.0 and the source code is available on GitHub.[10]

Microsoft also provides a JavaScript SDK that implements the client-side of the U-Prove Cryptographic Specification.[11]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2010/03/microsoft-open-sources-clever-u-prove-identity-framework/ Microsoft open-sources clever U-Prove identity framework
  2. Web site: Startup Plans to Solve Online Identity Theft, But Does Anyone Care? . Wired.
  3. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/04/brands_credentica_analysis/ Microsoft lines up with the good guys on identity tech • The Register
  4. http://www.credentica.com Credentica web site
  5. https://www.computerworld.com/article/2537548/microsoft-buys-u-prove-technology.html Microsoft buys U-Prove technology | Computerworld
  6. http://visualstudiomagazine.com/articles/2010/03/03/microsoft-releases-preview-of-uprove.aspx RSA Conference: Microsoft Releases Preview of U-Prove
  7. https://iapp.org/news/a/2010-10-01-privacy-vanguard-hp-iapp-privacy-innovation-awards-announced/ Privacy Vanguard, HP-IAPP Privacy Innovation Awards announced
  8. https://www.csoonline.com/article/2227344/microsoft-u-prove-technology-wins-another-award.html Microsoft U-Prove Technology Wins Another Award | CSO Online
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20120105034725/https://www.id-conf.com/blog/2010/05/05/outstanding-projects-and-initiatives-in-im-honored/ Outstanding projects and initiatives in Identity Management honored | European Identity Conference Blog
  10. https://github.com/Microsoft/uprove-csharp-sdk GitHub - microsoft/uprove-csharp-sdk: The U-Prove Crypto SDK V1.1 (C# Edition) implements the U-Prove Cryptographic Specification V1.1 Revision 3. This SDK was developed by Microsoft to support experimentation with the foundational features of the U-Prove technology.
  11. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=52491 Download U-Prove JavaScript SDK from Official Microsoft Download Center