Microsoft Live Labs has officially launched two new online security services – Security Token Service (STS) and Relay Service.
These new services are part of Microsoft’s strategy to provide online services that compete with rivals like Google and Yahoo.
The Security Token Service (STS) is an online identity management service. This service allows users to register their personal information on a virtual information card using Microsoft’s authentication service, codenamed InfoCard. Once registered with STS, users can log into websites that integrate InfoCard by using the information stored on their virtual information card.
Microsoft views InfoCard as a secure and straightforward authentication technology that could replace the traditional login system using usernames and passwords, which is prevalent across many websites today. Microsoft officially introduced the InfoCard technology earlier this February as part of the Windows Vista operating system. However, many users believe that Microsoft’s new technology may also “fade away” like the Microsoft Passport service launched a few years ago, which offered similar features allowing users to log into multiple websites with a single account.
The Relay Service is developed on the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) platform, facilitating peer-to-peer connections through devices such as firewalls or Network Address Translation (NAT) devices. WCF is an integrated technology in Windows Vista that allows different systems to connect and communicate with each other using web services. Meanwhile, NAT helps hide the internal network addresses of accessing systems.
Users can access Microsoft’s new services through the websites sts.labs.live.com and relay.labs.live.com.
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