A plan to create a national online identity system was launched today to help combat cyber crime.Commerce Secretary Gary Locke claimed the move will protect Internet consumers from fraud and identity theft.
Unveiling the scheme, he insisted the cyber ID was not a Big Brother plan by the government to snoop on web users.
Mr Locke said it would mean people would no longer have to remember a variety of different passwords to do business and social networking online.
He claims that the current system of half-remembered passwords jotted down on post it notes and based on pets and mother's maiden names is not enough.
'Passwords just won't cut it here,' he said. 'We must do more to help consumers protect themselves, and we must make it more convenient than remembering dozens of passwords.'
The Commerce Department said 8.1 million people fell prey to online identity thieves last year at a cost of $27 billion.
By using a single identification- which could come in the form of a unique piece of software on a cell phone, a keychain fob, or some other type of gadget- the administration believes it will be easier and safer to navigate the web. Read More
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