Microsoft Passport Network

Microsoft Passport Network is a "unified-login" service provided by Microsoft that allows users to log in to many websites using one account. Many of these websites include Microsoft services such as Hotmail, the .NET Messenger Service or MSN subscriptions, but there are also several other companies affiliated with Microsoft that use it, such as RadioShack and Hoyts. Users of Hotmail or MSN automatically have a Microsoft Passport that corresponds to their accounts.

Related Topics:
Microsoft - Website - Hotmail - .NET Messenger Service - MSN - RadioShack - Hoyts

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Microsoft has recently stated that they will stop usage of Passport for entities outside of Microsoft's operations. Despite media reports that Microsoft is phasing out the technology, Microsoft rolled out a major update to the Passport service in May, 2005.

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Passport was criticised by the Electronic Frontier Foundation's staff attorney Deborah Pierce as a potential threat to privacy after it was revealed that Microsoft would have full access and usage to customer information. http://news.com.com/Privacy+terms+revised+for+Microsoft+Passport/2100-1023_3-255310.html?tag=bplst The privacy terms were quickly updated by Microsoft to allay customers' fears.

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