Multiplatform e-ID-card plug-in for Gecko-based browsers
The e-ID-card is a smart card for accessing e-government
services, which is aimed at boosting the deployment and take-up
of transactional services. The smart card already widely used
in telephony and increasingly in public transport and epayment -
is now emerging as a key building block for secure access to and
convenient use of eGovernment information society services.
Foremost of these at present is the drive to implement an
advanced eHealth card and e-ID cards in several member states.
As a safe and tamper-resistant token it enables secure and
convenient access to services and provides holders with
increased confidence when accessing and using on-line services.
In particular the elements of the Smart Card Charter developed
smart card based electronic Public Identity, which addresses
authentication in e-government and in the private e-services
domain are of major importance. Besides containing personal data
elements this electronic Public ID also addresses biometrics for
convenient proof of the claimed identity of a person and the
digital signature to prove the positive consent of the
cardholder in an e-transaction process.
The e-ID-card is meant to enable user identification and
authentication for all existing and future e-government
services. Combined with a card reader, the e-ID-card will make
it possible for citizens to securely interact and transact with
public authorities online, therefore providing a decisive boost
to the further development of Internet-based e-government
services.
Invent-Soft created a multiplatform e-ID-card plug-in is the
library developed for one of the European countries. This
plug-in allows users, which use Gecko-based browsers, exploit
their e-ID-card for accessing online services requiring SSL
client authentication, regardless of the specific type of
e-ID-card. The e-ID-card aims at becoming an access mechanism
for all existing and future e-government services. When inserted
in a special reader, the e-ID-card card will identify its owner
online and allow interaction with the public authorities.