CNET unravels the mysteries surrounding Passport

By Jeff Bertolucci
(10/23/01)

Whether you know it or not, if you've ever signed up for a Hotmail account, you have a Passport account, too. And that's a good thing, because if you want to access Microsoft's Web support site these days, you must enter a Passport ID and a password. So what gives? What is this thing called Passport?

Microsoft Passport is an online identification system that assigns a unique ID to individual Web surfers. Once you sign up for Passport, Microsoft provides access to a variety of its own services, including the new Windows Messenger chat program in Windows XP. And, thanks to a lot of crafty business development work from Microsoft, you can also use Passport to sign in to dozens of non-Microsoft sites, including Starbucks.com and Costco Online.

Microsoft intends to make Passport the undisputed ID system for the Internet, and its ambitious plan has consumer watchdogs, privacy advocates, and Microsoft's competitors up in arms. We'll tell you what all the controversy is about and whether you really need a Passport.

Passport basics
What is Passport? How do you sign up for an account? We answer these questions and more.

Passport options
Do you need a Passport account if you want to shop online? The answer is simple...sort of.

Passport security
Just how secure is your Passport account? How will Microsoft use your personal information? We'll fill you in.

Passport power
Do you suffer from fear of a Microsoft Planet? Find out if Passport will help Microsoft monopolize the Internet.

So exactly what is Passport?