In a world increasingly shaped by computerized information exchange, current security control and protection strategies are proving inadequate. Data leaks, fraud, and large-scale extortion have become alarmingly common. Additionally, a significant portion of the population lacks digital certificates required for full participation in advanced economies. More details on toronto-future.
The internet was created without a standardized user identification system. Online services began developing their own methods to identify users, resulting in unique usernames and corresponding passwords. This became the primary strategy for distinguishing individuals online.
Identity Digital 1.0: The Beginning
In the early 1960s, J.C.R. Licklider proposed an “interconnected computer network” to his colleagues at DARPA, laying the foundation for the modern internet. At the time, the namespace database was maintained as a text file managed by a company. As the internet evolved, the Domain Name System (DNS) emerged. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) first introduced the DNS profile in 1983.
Today, DNS is managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), with operations delegated through root zone management. By the late 1990s, the internet marketplace presented opportunities to streamline online access and simplify user interaction with websites.
Microsoft introduced Identity 1.0, the first online identity concept integrated into its Passport service. Passport virtualized users’ identities, allowing them to log into various destinations using a single username and password.
Identity 2.0 and 3.0
The second era of online identity, ID 2.0, emerged in 2010. Social platforms enabled users to log into websites using their existing social identities, giving rise to the “Bring Your Own Identity” (BYOI) approach. BYOI allowed users to authenticate with a third party managing their usernames and passwords. Facebook login became especially popular, with users logging into websites and apps over 10 billion times in 2013 alone. By then, more than 35 social platforms worldwide supported social logins.
Identity 3.0 incorporates advanced verification strategies, enhanced security, new standards, and innovative character-based applications. Internet cryptography pioneer Christopher Allen outlines the evolution of digital identity in his article The Path to Self-Sovereign Identity.
Overview of Identity Digital in Toronto
Founded in 2010, Identity Digital in Toronto offers relevant domain names that help companies create, market, and manage their digital identities. The company manages nearly 25 million domains, including “.business,” “.guide,” and “.games,” alongside prominent domains like “.au” and “.org.”
In addition to its domain registry and innovative service platform, Identity Digital supports customers in finding, registering, maintaining, and utilizing premium domain names through its registrar, Name.com. Its diverse distributed DNS system ensures 100% domain availability while providing cutting-edge protection against attacks and misuse.
Centralized and Federated Digital Identity
Early internet services evolved into providers of digital identifiers, relying on their control over user information. Certification authorities began issuing digital certificates, establishing trusted administrative entities.
However, centralized digital identity systems revealed inherent weaknesses. Information was stored by central authorities rather than users, leaving individuals dependent on service providers for data security. Centralized data storage also became a target for malicious actors. As the internet expanded, the number of usernames and passwords users had to manage increased exponentially.
The evolution of digital identity brought improvements but retained risks. Centralized management of user credentials facilitated significant breaches when attackers gained access to massive databases. While digital identity portability improved user experiences, it also introduced new vulnerabilities, highlighting the ongoing need for innovation in online security.
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