Internet Identity

Internet Identity, The End of Usernames and Passwords, is extraordinarily easy to use, in sharp contrast to existing systems used to authenticate to blockchains over the web. The Internet Identity blockchain authentication system enables you to sign in securely and anonymously to dapps on the Internet Computer.

Essentially, it allows end users to authenticate to dapps on the blockchain using their devices, in a way made possible by the “Chain Key” cryptography used by the Internet Computer. End-user devices can be traditional HSM devices, such as a YubiKey, or mobile devices that contain a TPM chip, such as a laptop or phone. For example, many thousands of people are already authenticating themselves to dapps running entirely on the Internet Computer using the fingerprint sensor on their laptop, or FaceID on their phone. In each case, fantastic usability is provided, and even though public key cryptography is being securely applied within the secure chips inside of the devices involved, the users never have to touch key material themselves and benefit from a seamless, low friction experience.

Internet Identity is being constantly refined to make it compatible with more and more devices that support a web standard called WebAuthn. If you have an older device, and your browser does not support the standard in a way that works with Internet Identity (so that you can use, for example, a fingerprint sensor to authenticate), then you can augment it with an HSM device such as a YubiKey. This can be made convenient too. For example, you can purchase a YubiKey that supports NFC, that allows you to sign in via, say, a phone, just by tapping it with the key. Luckily, consumer devices are increasingly including such authenticators by default.

The way that Internet Identity enables users to securely authenticate to dapps on the blockchain via their devices is revolutionary.