Microsoft and VeriSign have agreed to work together to overcome the criticism levelled at Microsoft’s first .NET technologies, code-named Hailstorm. Hailstorm is designed to give users access to their personal information through any device and from any location through a single log-on and authentication system based on Microsoft’s Passport.

Hailstorm is still in the development stage and has been criticised by both privacy and security experts. VeriSign, a leading provider of internet trust services, was brought on board to provide authentication and security technologies to overcome this criticism and to give confidence to users. The problem is that VeriSign itself has a far-from-perfect security record. Earlier this year, Verisign was duped into signing certificates to a scam artist posing as a Microsoft employee. These certificates could have done immense damage to Microsoft.

In return for the provision of these services, VeriSign will have access to the Hailstorm services throughout its business which it hopes will increase efficiency and ease of use. Stratton Sclavos, President and CEO of VeriSign, believes that Hailstorm will benefit customers in that they will have "a new set of services that facilitate secure storage and access of consumer and business information, on-line collaboration and workflow management and e-commerce transaction processing".

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