Blogging Sueblimely

Since my last post I have been investigating Google’s plans for including OpenIDs as a logging in method for commenting on blogspot Blogger blogs. The OpenID system can be a little confusing so I thought I would whip up some information for you.

The aim of the OpenID system is to give users a single digital identity to be used throughout the internet, ultimately eliminating the need for you to use multiple usernames across different websites. For sites that support OpenID’s, you can log in with your OpenID user name instead of having to register. The first time you log in to a particular site using your OpenID you will be directed to your your OpenID provider to confirm that you allow the site to access your OpenID. OpenIDs typically take the form of a URL. For example “http://youridname.claimid.com” or http://youridname.myopenid.com
If, like me, you struggle to keep up with different usernames and passwords, OpenID is really handy for logging in purposes. Having been subject to security breaches recently,
on a website I run for a client and on Windows Live Chat, I am keen to change my passwords much more often. Having to change only one would be much easier; although it does make it more important that you do change passwords frequently.

There are various providers offering OpenID’s, which means you can choose one that best meets your needs and one that you trust. Your OpenID name can stay with you if you move to a different provider. If you are cluey with coding you can even set yourself up as your own provider/provider for others using your own server but as that is quite complicated I am not going to go there. I mention it in relation to ensuring you sign up with a trusted site. I signed up for an OpenID a year or so ago with myopenid.com but have now changed my provider to claimID.com because of the more detailed profile information that I can add. You can see my OpenID profile here at my OpenID address of http://sueblimely.claimid.com - I am in the process of adding more information about where to find me on the net.

You can find up-to-date details on which sites are supporting the use of OpenID’s at the OpenID Directory, that is, sites where you can log in using your OpenID. It will be a while before we can rid ourselves of multiple login identities but more and more sites are joining up with the system. Some examples:

• Magnolia – bookmarking site
• Jyte – Social Networking Site
• Zoomr – Photo Sharing
• Wikispaces – Wiki
• Netscape news portal
• twitterfeed
• Stickis

You may actually have an OpenID without having knowingly registered for one. Your identities with the following sites are already OpenID’s. For example:

• AOL Your OpenID is – openid.aol.com/screenname
• LiveJournal – username.livejournal.com
• Technorati – technorati.com/people/technorati/username
• Vox – member.vox.com
• WordPress.com

This means that you can sign in to OpenID supported sites using your username from one of the above sites. For example if you have a WordPress.com blog you can use “yourusername.wordpress.com” to log in to a Magnolia.com account . One problem with this is that the OpenID belongs to your blog or than being yours individually. This has implications if there is more than one editor of your blog or if you wish to change blog platforms. You could, however, sign up for another OpenID and link your WordPress ID to this.

More information in case you want to get into this subject in more detail and complexity:

• List of the providers that you can sign up with to obtain an OpenID – Public OpenID providers.
• Information for WordPress.com users
• The OpenID Directory Blog
• A warning about backing up and changing passwords your paranoia is justified
• Simon Willison says that OpenID is moving towards a more secure system – Designing for a security breach.
• Reading this – The problem(s) with OpenID has me concerned about its security aspects.
• Run your own identity server Running your own identity server allows you to act as an OpenID Provider for just yourself or for others – this is quite complicated.

The impetus for writing this post came about because Blogger is testing support for using OpenID, which is good news for non Blogger user comments. It is possible to link your blog site with your OpenID account so that the links to your non Blogger blogs , lost by the recent Blogger comment form changes, are re-established. I will post about this separately.

Related Posts

• Blogspot Blogger comment form change unfair to ALL bloggers
• Using your own Blog URL as your OpenID