Eclipse Nestled Project Higgins to Spawn New Gen Security Software
IBM, Novell and Parity Communications are contributing code to an open source initiative -- code-named "Project Higgins” -- that will spawn a new generation of security software, giving people more control over their personal online identity information. Project Higgins builds upon a concept developed by Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society.
Project Higgins – which is being managed by the Eclipse open source foundation -- is developing software for "user-centric" identity management, an emerging trend in security software. It enables individuals to actively manage and control their online personal information, such as bank account, telephone and credit card numbers, or medical and employment records -- rather than institutions managing that information as they do today. People will decide what information they want shared with trusted online websites that use the software.
This is the first user-centric identity management effort to follow the open source software model, where hundreds of thousands of developers contribute -- and continually drive improvements through collaborative innovation. Being an open source effort, Higgins will support any computer running Linux, Windows or any operating system, and will support any identity management system.
Higgins will make it simple and secure for someone to change an address across all their online accounts with a single keystroke; delegate who can see what elements of their medical records; or change a password across online banking and brokerage accounts. For example, a person can grant their insurance company broad access to their personal information and medical records, while at the same time limiting the amount of data made available to their cable company. In turn, businesses can create new channels of communication with customers – enabling information to be shared securely across networks to deliver targeted, relevant products and services.
To spur swift adoption of Higgins by the broadest community of software developers, IBM, Novell and Parity Communications are contributing software code to Higgins, and will be joined by other technology companies who are expected to participate in the project. IBM plans to incorporate Higgins technology within its Tivoli identity management software, with added support by independent software vendors and IBM's consulting services division.
