RSA 2009: Equifax I-Card and eIDverifier

Equifax Launches 'Identity 2.0'

Company Teams with GSA to Demonstrate New, Secure Identity Management Program at RSA Conference 2009

San Francisco, California, USA. April 21, 2009. [With additional references]

Equifax Inc. today announced at the RSA Conference 2009 a suite of products and industry initiatives to protect consumers' identity online and enhance security for personally identifiable information.

Led by Ron Carpinella, vice president of identity management and identity marketing, Equifax's "Identity 2.0" program builds a pipeline of products that make online transactions easier and more secure for consumers and businesses. The Equifax I-Card and its enhanced authentication offering, eIDverifier, are two of the company's initiatives.

Equifax I-Card: First Public Demonstration

This week, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) conducted the first public government demonstrations of the Equifax online identity card, or I-Card, at the RSA Conference. Using a test site, the GSA showcased the benefits of using information card technology as the verified credential for clicking into a site.

"The government believes that there is a win-win for all of us in collaborating with industry to provide good identity solutions for electronic interactions with the American public," said Judy Spencer of the GSA.

Launched last fall, the Equifax I-Card is a digital identity management solution that lives in a consumer's digital wallet, containing information that consumers need to securely conduct online transactions or verify identity.

For websites that accept I-Cards, consumers can click-in without typing in a user name, password or other personal information. The Equifax I-Card is designed to verify that a consumer's identity is true, which can reduce fraud for online merchants, services and destinations. The I-Card can also reduce the need for companies to retain customers' personally identifiable information (PII), which helps reduce the risk posed by data breaches. In addition, because the I-Card only works with trusted Websites, it diminishes the danger of phishing.

Equifax eIDverifier

Powering the Equifax I-Card is the latest release of eIDverifier, one of the strongest identity verification tools available. eIDverifier is a Web-based service designed to authenticate a consumer's identity through a waterfall series of steps, all backed by Equifax's industry-leading information database.

The eIDverifier service presents multiple-choice questions known only to the consumer, and validates the information against multiple sources. eIDverifier screens for details such as irregular patterns in user log-ins and data that has been reported as belonging to a deceased consumer. The software then uses a patented process of assessment and reason-codes to detect potential fraud and confirm identity.

With the new eIDverifier 2.0, the Equifax I-Card is backed by the strongest possible identity protection software.

Executive Leadership: Ron Carpinella, Identity Management

Recently, Ron Carpinella, who leads Equifax's online information management program, shared some key insights on emerging industry trends and their impact on business at the RSA Conference. A former executive with Google, Flycast (CMGi) and Veoh, Carpinella presented his ideas on identity management at the conference's Identity Assurance Panel.

"Identity is about empowerment and engagement, and should be verifiable and secure," Carpinella said. "We're developing validation and verification tools that will establish a trusted relationship between consumers and online retailers, services and destinations."

Carpinella noted that Equifax is partnering with Azigo (formerly Parity), to offer the I-Card. Consumers who obtain the Equifax I-Card will also be offered Azigo's I-card management software to enable one-click sign-in and identity verification. Consumers can get their Equifax I-Card free of charge at https://equifaxicards.com for use exclusively at a proof-of-concept site (http://watch-this.com).

The Equifax I-Card is part of the growing trend to provide increased anonymity and security for a consumer's financial and credit information online. Equifax is working with multiple data sources for identity verification, along with open source technology that is endorsed by The Information Card Foundation (ICF), an industry consortium of consumer, data and technology companies.

The Equifax I-Card is among the first commercial I-card-based products to launch from members of ICF, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing a simpler and more secure digital identity on the Internet. Led by Deutsche Telecom, Equifax, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Novell, Oracle PayPal and Parity, the ICF promotes the rapid build-out and adoption of Internet-enabled digital identities using information cards.

About Equifax

Equifax empowers businesses and consumers with information they can trust. A global leader in information solutions, employment and income verification and human resources business process outsourcing services, we leverage one of the largest sources of consumer and commercial data, along with advanced analytics and proprietary technology, to create customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.

Customers have trusted Equifax for over 100 years to deliver innovative solutions with the highest integrity and reliability. Businesses — large and small — rely on us for consumer and business credit intelligence, portfolio management, fraud detection, decisioning technology, marketing tools, HR/payroll services and much more. We empower individual consumers to manage their personal credit information, protect their identity, and maximize their financial well-being.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax Inc. operates in the U.S. and 14 other countries throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Equifax is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EFX.

Contact

Jennifer Costello
Equifax Inc.
Tel: +1 (404) 885-8907
Email: jennifer.costello@equifax.com

Additional References

I-Cards: US GSA Initiative: "The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has been tasked with seeking ways to more effectively enable citizens to access government online services. GSA has begun the process of determining the appropriate use of industry Information Card offerings like the Equifax I-Card. So the GSA partnered with Equifax, Azigo, PamelaWare and Meristic to demonstrate how they could use Information Cards to authenticate users to a government demonstration website with appropriate assurance levels, while maintaining security and preserving privacy."
Equifax eIDverifier: "eIDverifier allows you to authenticate the identity of individuals accessing your web-site. While other on-line processes simply verify information, they are not able to match information with actual applicants. The authentication program produces an assessment score and reason codes by making a comparison of consumer-provided information with Equifax and other industry datasources. Acceptable risk cutoff levels are determined by our customers to fit their industry and their business requirements. Steps: (1) The user completes and submits an on-line application form. eIDverifier performs edits and validations on the data elements supplied by the consumer and then verifies key data fields. Additionally, the consumer-supplied data is compared to the content of multiple databases. (2) The Equifax Secure authentication engine displays a multiple-choice questionnaire compiled from information managed by consumer and business information sources. These questions can include elements from the user's financial history. The user then completes and submits the multiple-choice questionnaire form. (3) A series of algorithms are run comparing the consumer-supplied information to the datasources, and the consumer responses to the multiple-choice questionnaire to determine if the person is who he or she claims to be. If the engine can verify the user's identity, the user moves to the next step in the customer-defined application process. If eIDverifier cannot verify the identity, the user is directed to complete the identity verification process manually..."
Earlier announcement November 13, 2008: "Equifax Unveils Online Identity Card. Designed to Help Businesses Lower Fraud Risk, Strengthen Customer Relationships." — "Equifax Inc. unveiled the Equifax online identity card or I-Card, with a beta test of a first-of-its-kind digital identity management solution that is designed to make online transactions easier and more secure for both consumers and businesses... The Equifax I-Card is among the first commercial I-card-based products to launch from members of ICF, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing a simpler and more secure digital identity on the Internet. Led by Deutsche Telecom, Equifax, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Novell, Oracle PayPal and Parity, the ICF promotes the rapid build-out and adoption of Internet-enabled digital identities using information cards..."

Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive. See also the earlier announcement, with additional references.

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Led by Ron Carpinella, vice president of identity management and identity marketing, Equifax's "Identity 2.0" program builds a pipeline of products that make online transactions easier and more secure for consumers and businesses. The Equifax I-Card and its enhanced authentication offering, eIDverifier, are two of the company's initiatives. Equifax I-Card: First Public Demonstration This week, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) conducted the first public government demonstrations of the Equifax online identity card, or I-Card, at the RSA Conference. Using a test site, the GSA showcased the benefits of using information card technology as the verified credential for clicking into a site. "The government believes that there is a win-win for all of us in collaborating with industry to provide good identity solutions for electronic interactions with the American public," said Judy Spencer of the GSA. Launched last fall, the Equifax I-Card is a digital identity management solution that lives in a consumer's digital wallet, containing information that consumers need to securely conduct online transactions or verify identity. For websites that accept I-Cards, consumers can click-in without typing in a user name, password or other personal information. The Equifax I-Card is designed to verify that a consumer's identity is true, which can reduce fraud for online merchants, services and destinations. The I-Card can also reduce the need for companies to retain customers' personally identifiable information (PII), which helps reduce the risk posed by data breaches. In addition, because the I-Card only works with trusted Websites, it diminishes the danger of phishing. Equifax eIDverifier Powering the Equifax I-Card is the latest release of eIDverifier, one of the strongest identity verification tools available. eIDverifier is a Web-based service designed to authenticate a consumer's identity through a waterfall series of steps, all backed by Equifax's industry-leading information database. The eIDverifier service presents multiple-choice questions known only to the consumer, and validates the information against multiple sources. eIDverifier screens for details such as irregular patterns in user log-ins and data that has been reported as belonging to a deceased consumer. The software then uses a patented process of assessment and reason-codes to detect potential fraud and confirm identity. With the new eIDverifier 2.0, the Equifax I-Card is backed by the strongest possible identity protection software. Executive Leadership: Ron Carpinella, Identity Management Recently, Ron Carpinella, who leads Equifax's online information management program, shared some key insights on emerging industry trends and their impact on business at the RSA Conference. A former executive with Google, Flycast (CMGi) and Veoh, Carpinella presented his ideas on identity management at the conference's Identity Assurance Panel. "Identity is about empowerment and engagement, and should be verifiable and secure," Carpinella said. "We're developing validation and verification tools that will establish a trusted relationship between consumers and online retailers, services and destinations." Carpinella noted that Equifax is partnering with Azigo (formerly Parity), to offer the I-Card. Consumers who obtain the Equifax I-Card will also be offered Azigo's I-card management software to enable one-click sign-in and identity verification. Consumers can get their Equifax I-Card free of charge at https://equifaxicards.com for use exclusively at a proof-of-concept site (http://watch-this.com). The Equifax I-Card is part of the growing trend to provide increased anonymity and security for a consumer's financial and credit information online. Equifax is working with multiple data sources for identity verification, along with open source technology that is endorsed by The Information Card Foundation (ICF), an industry consortium of consumer, data and technology companies. The Equifax I-Card is among the first commercial I-card-based products to launch from members of ICF, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing a simpler and more secure digital identity on the Internet. Led by Deutsche Telecom, Equifax, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Novell, Oracle PayPal and Parity, the ICF promotes the rapid build-out and adoption of Internet-enabled digital identities using information cards. About Equifax Equifax empowers businesses and consumers with information they can trust. A global leader in information solutions, employment and income verification and human resources business process outsourcing services, we leverage one of the largest sources of consumer and commercial data, along with advanced analytics and proprietary technology, to create customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers. Customers have trusted Equifax for over 100 years to deliver innovative solutions with the highest integrity and reliability. Businesses — large and small — rely on us for consumer and business credit intelligence, portfolio management, fraud detection, decisioning technology, marketing tools, HR/payroll services and much more. We empower individual consumers to manage their personal credit information, protect their identity, and maximize their financial well-being. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax Inc. operates in the U.S. and 14 other countries throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Equifax is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EFX. Contact Jennifer Costello Equifax Inc. Tel: +1 (404) 885-8907 Email: jennifer.costello@equifax.com Additional References I-Cards: US GSA Initiative: "The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has been tasked with seeking ways to more effectively enable citizens to access government online services. GSA has begun the process of determining the appropriate use of industry Information Card offerings like the Equifax I-Card. So the GSA partnered with Equifax, Azigo, PamelaWare and Meristic to demonstrate how they could use Information Cards to authenticate users to a government demonstration website with appropriate assurance levels, while maintaining security and preserving privacy." Equifax eIDverifier: "eIDverifier allows you to authenticate the identity of individuals accessing your web-site. While other on-line processes simply verify information, they are not able to match information with actual applicants. The authentication program produces an assessment score and reason codes by making a comparison of consumer-provided information with Equifax and other industry datasources. Acceptable risk cutoff levels are determined by our customers to fit their industry and their business requirements. Steps: (1) The user completes and submits an on-line application form. eIDverifier performs edits and validations on the data elements supplied by the consumer and then verifies key data fields. Additionally, the consumer-supplied data is compared to the content of multiple databases. (2) The Equifax Secure authentication engine displays a multiple-choice questionnaire compiled from information managed by consumer and business information sources. These questions can include elements from the user's financial history. The user then completes and submits the multiple-choice questionnaire form. (3) A series of algorithms are run comparing the consumer-supplied information to the datasources, and the consumer responses to the multiple-choice questionnaire to determine if the person is who he or she claims to be. If the engine can verify the user's identity, the user moves to the next step in the customer-defined application process. If eIDverifier cannot verify the identity, the user is directed to complete the identity verification process manually..." Earlier announcement November 13, 2008: "Equifax Unveils Online Identity Card. Designed to Help Businesses Lower Fraud Risk, Strengthen Customer Relationships." — "Equifax Inc. unveiled the Equifax online identity card or I-Card, with a beta test of a first-of-its-kind digital identity management solution that is designed to make online transactions easier and more secure for both consumers and businesses... The Equifax I-Card is among the first commercial I-card-based products to launch from members of ICF, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing a simpler and more secure digital identity on the Internet. Led by Deutsche Telecom, Equifax, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Novell, Oracle PayPal and Parity, the ICF promotes the rapid build-out and adoption of Internet-enabled digital identities using information cards..." Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive. See also the earlier announcement, with additional references.