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OpenID and You: "So you've decided to try and make your life easier"

Submitted by paul.lu81 on November 5, 2008 - 9:04pm

OpenID is a service that allows users to sign into websites using a single secure identity. It is intended to solve the problem of having a different username and password for every website that you have an account for. It can also be used to simplify registration for websites you do not have an account with.

The single secure identity is a valid uri that can be used to identify you. For example: http://username.myopenid.com/.

Where can you get one?

There are several OpenID Providers that offer OpenID as a free service. Some well known ones include:

  • MyOpenID
  • Yahoo!
  • VeriSign
  • Blogger

    • For more information, please visit: OpenID.net

    Once you've got an OpenID, you can log into any website that uses OpenID. Such as: Jyte At the OpenID login, just enter your OpenID URI eg. http://username.myopenid.com/ and click login.

    Quick overview of the events that take place on login:

  • The website (henceforth referred to as the Relying Party or Consumer) takes your openID and looks for your OpenID Provider.
  • It will then redirect you to the OpenID Provider's website so that you may:
    -login and confirm your identity if you're not already logged in
    -Confirm that you want to continue to the website
  • The OpenID Provider confirms that you are who you say you are and returns you to the Relying Party.
    The Relying Party checks to make sure the OpenID Provider gave you the okay and that the OpenID Provider's response was not tampered with.
  • If everything checks out, the Relying Party logs you into their site.
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