Virtual malls, electronic banking, and other electronic services are becoming more commonplace. However, your concerns about privacy and security might be preventing you from taking advantage of this new medium for your personal business. A Digital ID can help.

Or, your employer might have a new network that requires you to have a Digital ID for applications that you use on the job. Because you will use this technology on the job, you need to learn to use Digital IDs quickly.

Digital IDs are used by Web sites and network applications to scramble data passed between two computers. Encryption is a powerful tool, but encryption alone is not enough protection for your information.

Encryption cannot prove your identity or the identity of someone sending you encrypted information. For example, an online stock broker might have a site that encrypts data sent to you through its Web pages. The site might even require you to enter a username and password. However, these types of usernames and passwords are easily intercepted and cannot be trusted to prove your identity. Without additional safeguards, someone could impersonate you online and get access to your accounts or other valuable and private information.

Digital IDs address this problem, providing an electronic means of verifying your identity. Digital IDs provide a more complete security solution, assuring the identity of all parties involved in a transaction.

Because of the way Digital IDs work, they provide a function called nonrepudiation, which essentially prevents people from denying that they sent a message. For example, when you use a credit card, you have to sign a receipt authorizing payment. Because a signature is required on the receipt, you can prove someone stole or used your card by comparing your signature to theirs. With nonrepudiation, your "authorization" happens automatically when you send your Digital ID.

If someone manages to steal your Digital ID, they cannot use it unless they have the password and your private key. This is why it is critical that you do not tell anyone your password.