OpenID is a shared identity service which allows Internet users to log on to many web sites using a single sign-on or in other words a single username or user ID, thus eliminating the need for a different user name and password for each site.

An OpenID is in the form of a link or a URL. This URL can be the domain name of your own website, or the URL of an OpenID identity provider. When you log in with an OpenID, you have to log in to the Open identity provider for validation.

How do I get an OpenID?

There are many OpenID providers around such as WordPress, AOL, Orange, VeriSign etc. In case of WordPress, if you have a WordPress.com blog, then your OpenID is the URL of your blog. Please note that this is for WordPress.com blogs only and not for self-hosted blogs. Similarly each OpenID provider gives you a unique URL which serves as your OpenID.

Where can I use OpenID?

You can use your OpenID in sites such as Ma.gnolia.com, Propeller, Zooomr etc. Here is an OpenID directory which you can look into for the complete list of site which accept OpenID.

Can anyone else steal my OpenID?

No one can steal your OpenID’s. You as a user have to authenticate the OpenID URL by logging into the OpenID service providers’ administration which makes it very secure, unless of course you’ve shared your password!