The Identity Metasystem is defined by the use of an identity selector to store, manage, generate and interface digital identity representations—information cards—to the user and to other applications. Since the selector model is under the umbrella of the Identity Metasystem, the model must support multiple platforms, protocols, and identity mechanisms. Currently, there are four groups providing selectors that meet the requirements for the selector based identity model:
Microsoft CardSpace selector
Higgins Project-based selectors
The Azigo selector
Novell’s Bandit Project DigitalMe selector
openinformationcard selector
The selector based model is very difficult to spoof, phish, or crack. The selector model is very hack resistant—it has not happened yet.
The selector based model is not only cross site sensitive, but provides context across sites at the individual level.
The selector based model does not require a relying party to be aware of the presence of a selector or information card in order to derive benefits from cross site context sensitivity.
The selector model is not only accessible from the web browser, but from any application executing on the operating system platform.