Phone-based Two-Factor Authentication Now Available for OpenID
JanRain and Positive Networks Combine Efforts to Offer Secure Strong
Authentication for OpenID Users
PORTLAND, OR and OVERLAND PARK, KS (May 12, 2008) – JanRain and Positive
Networks have developed a phone-based, two-factor authentication solution specifically
designed to support users of myOpenID. myOpenID, the most popular independent OpenID
provider, is a free, fully featured, and secure solution for users who want their own personal
OpenID identity. The new secure authentication offering, CallVerifIDTM, is available
immediately to all myOpenID users and is based on Positive Networks’ PhoneFactor service.
PhoneFactor is the leading phone-based authentication service and does not rely on
text/SMS messages, tokens, certificates or the installation of hardware.
OpenID is an open standard shared identity service, which enables users to log on to
different web sites and applications using a single digital identity, eliminating the need to
create and manage separate user names and passwords for each site. OpenID empowers
users to control when, where, and how they share personal information.
“As the adoption and usage of OpenID accelerates across thousands of websites and
applications, it is becoming increasingly important to provide multi-factor authentication
options, said Brian Kissel, CEO of JanRain. “Adding CallVerifID powered by PhoneFactor to
the myOpenID service provides users with the best two-factor authentication solution
available.”
The new offering is based on the award-winning PhoneFactor technology and provides
simple two-factor authentication and identity protection with far greater security than only
using passwords. This phone-based authentication service can use any phone (mobile or
landline) as a second authentication factor. The user enters a myOpenID username and
password as usual, then simply answers an automated instant telephone call and presses
“#”. This completes the authentication process. Complete two-factor authentication and
identity protection is instantly enabled with no need for tokens, smart cards or certificates.
CallVerifID is currently available for free to myOpenID users and as an additional service for
business clients provisioning OpenIDs to both customers and employees.
“Adding strong authentication to OpenID must be simple, convenient and very secure if it is
to work for most people. This rules out most traditional solutions like tokens, but is ideal for a
phone-based solution like PhoneFactor, said Tim Sutton, CEO of Positive Networks. “We
think that the marriage of OpenID and PhoneFactor will be the first really scalable multifactor
solution”.
About JanRain
JanRain is a leading provider of OpenID technology and solutions. Having contributed to the
development of the OpenID specifications and written many of the open source libraries,
test scripts and sample implementations, JanRain’s source libraries power the majority of
today’s OpenID-enabled websites. JanRain manages myOpenID.com, the most popular
independent OpenID provider for consumers and businesses. Based in Portland, OR,
JanRain was a key contributor in establishing the OpenID Foundation and provides a full
range of OpenID enablement and provisioning services.
About Positive Networks
Positive Networks is a leading provider of security products and services, including the
award-winning PhoneFactorTM two-factor authentication and identity protection service, and
the PositivePROTM remote access service. Awards include: “Best-in-Class” Service Provider
by Stratecast Partners, finalist for SC Magazine Excellence Award, AlwaysON AO100, Info
Security Product Guide Product Excellence Award winner. For more information, please call
877-668-6536 or visit www.phonefactor.com.
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PositivePRO and Positive Networks are trademarks of Positive Networks; all other company, product and publication names are trademarks of their respective holders.
