Quick Overview
What are Information Cards?
Information Cards are the digital version of the cards you carry in your purse or wallet today. You use them with a new kind of digital wallet called a selector.
To see how Information Cards and selectors work, watch our short video.
Why would I want one?
With Information Cards and selectors, everyday Web transactions become much easier, faster and safer: login, payment, form filling, information sharing. And new services become possible over the Web, for example, proving your legal name and address to apply for government permits, or proving your credit rating to obtain credit online.
Where do I get an Information Card?
There are two basic types of cards:
- Cards you issue yourself. Called personal cards, these can be created in seconds uing your own selector. Similar to a business card, they can have any combination of standard contact information (name, address, email, phone number, etc.)
- Cards issued by websites. Called managed cards, these can contain any information the website knows about you, called claims. For example, an airline website can issue you a mileage club Information Card so you can prove you are a member. Or a bank could issue you a payment card so you can safely and securely make purchases online.
Where do I get a selector?
Selectors are already built into some computer operating systems, such as Windows Vista, or you can download them as plug-ins for popular browsers. See our Guide to Installing a Selector for more information.
Why is this safer than the Internet today?
With Information Cards, there is no typing, no remembering passwords, and no sending unencrypted information. These strong safeguards are designed to mean the end of “phishing” as we know it. They also make routine Internet transactions—logins, form-filling, purchases, reference checking—as easy as swiping a credit card.
What does my website need to support Information Cards?
You can either add a code module to your site or use an outsourced web service. The former can take less than a day and the latter only a few hours. See How To Accept Information Cards for complete details.
Who's behind this?
Information Cards—like the Web itself—are an open, neutral industry standard for safer digital identity supported by some of the largest companies in the industry, including Booz Allen Hamilton, Deutsch Telekom, Equifax, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Paypal, and Verizon. These companies are the steering members of the international non-profit Information Card Foundation (ICF), which brings you this website as a public service.
All of the individuals and organizations at the ICF are dedicated to building a better digital identity system for the Internet that enables people to easily and safely share identity information across all web sites and services.
Where can I go for more information?
This site hosts four audience-oriented information centers:
- The User Information Center for end-user guidance on installing selectors and using Information Cards.
- The Business Information Center for sites that want to issue or accept Information Cards.
- The Technical Information Center for security architects, developers, and network administrators.
- The Press Information Center for members of the media.
We also offer:
- Featured Card Projects highlighting case studies of Information Card usage.
- A Resource Directory with listings of everything related to Information Cards.
- Information about the non-profit Information Card Foundation.
