U-Prove

U-Prove

Original author(s)	Credentica
Developer(s)	Microsoft
Repository	github.com/Microsoft/uprove-csharp-sdk
Written in	C#, JavaScript
Platform	Cross-platform
Type	Identity management
License	Apache License 2.0
Website	www.credentica.com

U-Prove is a free and open-source^[1] technology and accompanying software development kit^[2] for user-centric identity management. The underlying cryptographic protocols were designed by Dr. Stefan Brands^[3] and further developed by Credentica and, subsequently, Microsoft.^[4] The technology was developed to allow internet users to disclose only the minimum amount of personal data when making electronic transactions as a way to reduce the likelihood of privacy violations.^[5]

Overview

U-Prove enables application developers to reconcile seemingly conflicting security and privacy objectives (including anonymity), and allows for digital identity claims to be efficiently tied to the use of tamper-resistant devices such as smart cards. Application areas of particular interest include cross-domain enterprise identity and access management, e-government SSO and data sharing, electronic health records, anonymous electronic voting, policy-based digital rights management, social networking data portability, and electronic payments.

In 2008, Microsoft committed to opening up the U-Prove technology.^[1] As the first step, in March 2010 the company released a cryptographic specification and open-source API implementation code for part of the U-Prove technology as a Community Technology Preview under Microsoft's Open Specification Promise.^[6] Since then, several extensions have been released under the same terms and the technology has been tested in real-life applications.

In 2010, the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) honored U-Prove with the 2010 Privacy Innovation Award for Technology.^[7][8]

Microsoft also won the in European Identity Award in the Best Innovation category for U-Prove at the European Identity Conference 2010.^[9]

The U-Prove Crypto SDK for C# is licensed under Apache License 2.0 and the source code is available on GitHub.^[10]

Microsoft also provides a JavaScript SDK that implements the client-side of the U-Prove Cryptographic Specification.^[11]

See also

• Blind signature
• Zero-knowledge proof
• Identity metasystem

References

1. Microsoft open-sources clever U-Prove identity framework
2. "Startup Plans to Solve Online Identity Theft, But Does Anyone Care?". Wired.
3. Microsoft lines up with the good guys on identity tech • The Register
4. Credentica web site
5. Microsoft buys U-Prove technology | Computerworld
6. RSA Conference: Microsoft Releases Preview of U-Prove
7. Privacy Vanguard, HP-IAPP Privacy Innovation Awards announced
8. Microsoft U-Prove Technology Wins Another Award | CSO Online
9. Outstanding projects and initiatives in Identity Management honored | European Identity Conference Blog
10. GitHub - microsoft/uprove-csharp-sdk: The U-Prove Crypto SDK V1.1 (C# Edition) implements the U-Prove Cryptographic Specification V1.1 Revision 3. This SDK was developed by Microsoft to support experimentation with the foundational features of the U-Prove technology.
11. Download U-Prove JavaScript SDK from Official Microsoft Download Center

Further reading

• Stefan Brands (2000). Rethinking Public Key Infrastructures and Digital Certificates; Building in Privacy (1 ed.). The MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-02491-8.
• Christian Paquin; Greg Zaverucha (2013). "U-Prove Cryptographic Specification V1.1 (Revision 3)" (PDF). Microsoft Corporation.
• Christian Paquin (2013). "U-Prove Technology Overview V1.1 (Revision 2)" (PDF). Microsoft Corporation.

External links

• U-Prove on Credentica.com
• U-Prove on Microsoft website
• uprove-csharp-sdk on GitHub