About Security Gates said concern about information security and privacy has increased among computer users as they share more personal information while shopping and engaging in other activities online. Without serious attention from technology and security leaders, this concern will continue to grow as advances in technology allow computer users to more easily trade personal online preferences and other information among multiple devices, such as their office computer, cell phone and television set-top console, he said. There is no way to enforce policies around privacy unless there is a secure infrastructure working, and working perfectly. Gates said the need to maintain multiple computer passwords and online identities is degrading security because users are putting less energy into creating unique authentication. When he pulled the card out, Windows' Active Directory locked him out.
Employees swipe the same cards through electronic readers to enter and exit buildings.
Although many consumers feel uneasy about divulging personal information online, Gates said it's only natural for businesses to attempt to collect and use this information. Much of the information online businesses collect allows them to tailor their services or selection of products to the consumer. The key, Gates said, is that consumers should know what they are giving out. They also should be able to create privacy preferences for their personal information. Microsoft has incorporated a new protocol, or set of rules, into beta versions of Internet Explorer 6.0 that allows users to define the information they don't mind sharing over the Internet and informs them when Web sites want additional information.