Microsoft renews ‘Passport’ but privacy issues remain

Kelly McNeill writes, “Microsoft’s making changes to its Passport service following complaints that the Internet sign-on system is a threat to privacy, but critics of both the feature and the forthcoming Windows XP operating system say personal information is still at risk. The Redmond Washington-based software giant, is planning Passport changes that include separation of payment and billing information, less data-gathering on users, and privacy requirements for Passport-affiliated Web sites, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Still, privacy groups that requested a Federal Trade Commission investigation into Passport and Windows XP, which is set for an October launch, say the same threats to privacy remain.” The column is at osOpinion.