REDMOND, Wash., March 28 (UPI) -- Microsoft soon plans to test its new operating and browser systems that will help safeguard personal information on the Web, says the Wall Street Journal.
The effort is timely because of growing concerns both among consumers and Congress over the recent incidents of identity thefts.
The new Microsoft products will include ways for computer users and businesses to identify themselves online, exchange data and guard against software that can steal personal information, the Journal said.
The new version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, will introduce a software technology known as "Info-cards," which will let computer users selectively disclose information about themselves to businesses or others online, the report said quoting those familiar with the Microsoft plan. The software stores personal information such as a user's credit-card number, gender and phone numbers, and lets the user send and receive the information in an encrypted form that can be decoded only by trusted Web sites.
Separately, Internet Explorer 7 will give computer users more tools and information for identifying and avoiding "phishing" attacks and other methods of stealing personal information over the Internet.
