Microsoft beefs up .Net security

Microsoft has signed up digital certificate provider VeriSign to lay more security features on its .Net project - the same VeriSign that back in March accidentally handed two digital certificates over to a fraudster claiming to be from Microsoft.

As the foundation of the .Net strategy will be Microsoft's Passport system, the Redmond giant has decided to beef up security on the authentication side.

Passport was originally conceived as a method of storing multiple passwords on a website, but is quickly transforming into a user data profile that will form the basis of .Net services such as HailStorm.

VeriSign will provide certification and authentication systems for .Net users offering more security for user data stored in Microsoft Passport, and more secure communication and movement between users and affiliate sites.

Unless, of course, VeriSign gives away the keys to the kingdom to anyone claiming to be a Microsoft employee.