08 March, 2005 London, UK : Password Hashing Offers Latest Protection against Identity Theft
Leading alternative browser business Deepnet Explorer today became the first to incorporate high security password hashing counter measures capable of protecting surfers from the growing problem of identity theft over the internet.
The move signals the first step in Deepnet’s campaign to unite the web industry around the issue of password hashing and the protection the security offers against identity theft.
Password hashing works by mashing-up data like credit card numbers or bank sort codes often entered into website fields. The hashed information is then sent over the net to an approved source like a bank where it is recognised as a valid “hash” generated by a genuine user. While password hashing dramatically boosts internet security, so far only a small percentage of the web’s e-commerce businesses and internet banks have bothered to enable their sites to use the process.
Deepnet’s Yurong Lin comments: “Most businesses have no idea how easy it is to make their sites password hashing ready - the process takes minutes and requires only minimal programming. As a result millions of customers are making daily transactions over the internet that could easily be made more secure.”
Now Deepnet is calling for united action from all leading web browsers to promote the extra security value that password hashing can bring to the world’s web users.
“If more surfers understand the benefits of password hashing, more retailers will be motivated to make sure they enable their web sites. By uniting the browsing industry around this issue we hope to light the fuse on the next security boom to sweep the net”
Deepnet’s growing reputation as the browsing industry’s one to watch means that prospects look promising for password hashing uptake. Since pioneering anti-phising technology last December with its unique anti-phishing alarm, Opera, Firefox, Netscape and most recently, Internet Explorer have all announced plans to follow suit.
Opera and Netscape introduced anti-phishing features into its (Beta version) browser recently and Microsoft Internet Explorer are expected to offer similar protection by the summer.