Single sign-on (SSO) is a specialized form of software authentication that enables a user to authenticate once and gain access to the resources of multiple software systems.

There are at least five major types of SSO or reduced sign-on systems in common use at the time of this writing (2005):

• CoSign, an open-source project originally designed to provide the University of Michigan with a secure single sign-on web authentication system. CoSign authenticates users on the web server and then provides an environment variable for the users' name. When the users access a part of the site that requires authentication, the presence of that variable allows access without having to sign-on again. Cosign is part of the National Science Foundation Middleware Initiative (NMI) software release.
• Enterprise single sign-on (E-SSO), also called legacy single sign-on, after primary user authentication, intercepts login prompts presented by secondary applications, and automatically fills in fields such as a login ID or password. E-SSO systems allow for interoperability with applications that are unable to externalize user authentication, essentially through "screen scraping."
• Web single sign-on (Web-SSO), also called Web access management (Web-AM), works strictly with applications and resources accessed with a web browser. Access to web resources is intercepted, either using a web proxy server or by installing a component on each targeted web server. Unauthenticated users who attempt to access a resource are diverted to an authentication service, and returned only after a successful sign-on. Cookies are most often used to track user authentication state, and the Web-SSO infrastructure extracts user identification information from these cookies, passing it into each web resource.
• Kerberos is a popular mechanism for applications to externalize authentication entirely. Users sign into the Kerberos server, and are issued a ticket, which their client software presents to servers that they attempt to access. Kerberos is available on Unix, Windows and mainframe platforms, but requires extensive modification of client/server application code, and is consequently not used by many legacy applications.
• Federation is a new approach, also for web applications, which uses standards-based protocols to enable one application to assert the identity of a user to another, thereby avoiding the need for redundant authentication. Standards to support federation include SAML and WS-Federation ^*.
• Light-Weight Identity and OpenID, under the YADIS umbrella, offer distributed and decentralized SSO, where identity is tied to an easily-processed URL which can be verified by any server using one of the participating protocols.

More on [ Single sign-on ]

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Dell Consumer Investments Hinder Quarterly Earnings
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:34:35 -0400
Dell invested heavily to expand its nonenterprise market share in Europe and in various IT sectors and may have overextended itself in trying to set up retail outlets and woo consumers over to its laptops, desktops and peripherals. Dell revealed in its quarterly report that its fiscal second-quarter earnings fell a full 17 percent from a year ago. - Dell, in its zeal to expand its nonenterprise market share in Europe and in various IT sectors, may have expended too much marketing energy and cash trying to set up retail outlets and woo consumers over to its laptops, desktops and peripherals. Dell revealed in its quarterly report on Aug. ...
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 Privacy Features Win User Support
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:17:43 -0400
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 includes a number of security and privacy features that allow it to keep pace with competing browsers such as Firefox and Safari. Many users of Internet Explorer seem to appreciate Microsoft's privacy protections, which are designed to protect users' browsing information. The most talked-about features are InPrivate Browsing and InPrivate Blocking. - Much has been made of the new security features in Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2. As users and testers bang on the beta version of the browser, Microsoft appears to have gotten a lot right when it comes to privacy. In the Beta 2 version of Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft has added a num...
HP Wins Inkjet Printer Cartridge Patent Suit Against Pelikan Hardcopy
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:26:23 -0400
Hewlett-Packard says a German court has found Pelikan Hardcopy to be in violation of laws on unfair competition. Earlier in August, the court ordered Pelikan, a provider of printing supplies, to stop importing and distributing inkjet cartridges that infringed on HP's patents. - NEW YORK (Reuters) Hewlett-Packard Co said on Thursday a German court has found Pelikan Hardcopy to be in violation of laws on unfair competition. Earlier this month, the court ordered Pelikan, a provider of printing supplies, to stop importing and distributing inkjet cartridges that infringed on...
KDE Momentum Continues with New Updates, Features
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:12:58 -0400
The KDE community has released KDE 3.5.10, a maintenance release for the KDE 3.5 series of the popular Linux desktop. Meanwhile, KDE developers continue work on bringing service-oriented computing to KDE, as well as a new Amarok media player and enhanced Qt support. KDE also has adopted the Free Software Foundation Europe's Fiduciary License Agreement. - The KDE Community has announced the availability of KDE 3.5.10, a maintenance release of KDE, the free desktop for GNU Linux and other Unix flavors. The KDE desktop is the system of choice for a broad array of Linux users. And although the KDE community released KDE 4.1 at the end of July, K...
ITC Trade Panel Agrees to Take Up Microsoft Patent Case Against Primax
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:01:25 -0400
Microsoft accused Primax Electronics of Taiwan of infringing on its patents for peripheral devices like keyboards and mice. The International Trade Commission has agreed to hear Microsoft's case against Primax Electronics. The complainant requests that the ITC issue an exclusion order and a cease and desist order. - WASHINGTON (Reuters) A trade panel has agreed to investigate Microsoft Corp's accusation that Primax Electronics of Taiwan has infringed its patents for peripheral devices like keyboards and mice, the International Trade Commission said on Thursday. The complaint was filed on July 30, 2008. The ...
Dell Earnings Disappoint, Tech Spending Seen Weak
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:55:01 -0400
Dell, the top maker of desktop, notebook and laptop computers, posts a surprisingly steep drop in quarterly earnings and says companies around the world are cutting back on technology spending, sending its shares tumbling and sparking fears of weakness in the whole tech sector. Dell's outlook is for slower spending especially in Asia and Western Europe. Dell has cut 8,500 jobs so far based on a plan to slash 8,900, and at least one analyst says the results could presage further cutbacks. - SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) Dell Inc. posted a surprisingly steep drop in quarterly earnings and said companies around the world are cutting back on technology spending, sending its shares tumbling and sparking fears of weakness in the whole tech sector. quot;They're saying lower IT (information te...

The Seattle Times: Business & Technology

Boeing raises its contract offer to Machinists
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Boeing delivered its "best-and-final" offer to Machinists union officials, raising its proposed wage increase to 11 percent over three years.
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Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:06:05 -0700
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Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:24:30 -0700
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NYT > Technology

AT&T’s Rivals Are Happy to Attack Over iPhone’s Network Woes
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Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:33:16 -0000
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Results at Novell Are Better Than Expected
Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:08:42 -0000
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CNN.com - Technology

Web surfing without leaving a trace
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:22:18 -0400
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Dead Sea Scrolls go digital
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:24:41 -0400
More than 2,000 years after they were written, the Dead Sea Scrolls are getting high-tech treatment as part of an effort to better preserve the ancient texts and let more people see them than ever before.

NPR Topics: Technology

Obama Uses Text Messaging With Eye On Nov. 4
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:22:00 -0400
The Obama campaign has used text messaging to communicate with its supporters. Andrew Rasiej, founder of TechPresident, a blog that focuses on technology and the presidential campaigns, says the cell phone numbers can be used to get out the vote on Nov. 4.
'Marketplace' Report: Relief For Porn Addicts
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0400
In the newest test version of Microsoft's forthcoming Internet Explorer, consumers will have the option to surf without a "history." There are benefits to this feature beyond just prolonging marriages.
FCC Spreads The Word On Digital TV Switchover
Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:04:00 -0400
In February, people who use an antenna to get television signals will have to begin using conversion boxes to watch their favorite programs. The Federal Communications Commission will start an 80-city tour this week to talk about the changes.

BBC News | Technology | UK Edition

Hackers prepare supermarket sweep
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:06:37 -0000
Cyber thieves are hatching a plan to steal US funds through British supermarkets, the BBC learns.
McKinnon loses extradition appeal
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:31:36 -0000
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Internet Explorer gets makeover
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:01:45 -0000
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Reuters Video: Technology

Reuters Technology Week
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:42:18 -0400
Aug. 28 - The latest in food-fuel and new technology helps decipher the Dead Sea scrolls.
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AP Top Technology News At 6:22 p.m. EDT

Even critics give Apple a pass on iPhone 3G woes
By JESSICA MINTZ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:29:18 -0000
First an iPhone price cut left early buyers feeling foolish, and then came reports that some iPods were spitting sparks. Now the new iPhone 3G has been marred by bugs, spotty service, disappearing programs for the device and a veil of secrecy over software developers trying to broaden its appeal....
Small GPS devices help prosecutors win convictions
By MITCH STACY Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:16:55 -0000
Like millions of motorists, Eric Hanson used a GPS unit in his Chevrolet TrailBlazer to find his way around. He probably didn't expect that prosecutors would eventually use it too - to help convict him of killing four family members....
Dell 2Q profit drops 17 percent and stock plunges
By JESSICA MINTZ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:39:16 -0000
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CNET News.com

Vote for me, Obama says, through text messages
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:53:00 -0700
Delegates and other convention goers are asked to show support for Barack Obama by sending text messages, which will be scored based on what state they're from.
IE 8 Beta 2 not without its faults
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:53:00 -0700
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Whoops! Obama's VP text-messaging idea didn't work out so well
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:50:00 -0700
Keynote Systems reports that 40 percent to 50 percent of the text messages sent by the Obama campaign regarding the candidate's VP choice were late or never received.

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