Will Passport ding Microsoft's wallet?

A security flaw in the Passport identity service not only puts subscribers' information at risk of theft, but also puts a serious dent in Microsoft's push to deliver reliable software. The damage could go beyond public relations, though, and end up costing the company a chunk of cash.

The company could pay a steep penalty if the Federal Trade Commission determines that it violated a consent decree to boost the service's security and privacy protections.
May 8, 2003

The software giant works overnight to repair the password reset feature of its online identity service after a flaw was discovered that put millions of accounts at risk.
May 8, 2003

Microsoft shuts down a feature of its Passport service that put people's accounts, including their personal information and credit card numbers, at risk of being hijacked.
May 8, 2003

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Pages with private data will look different than regular, unsecured pages, reminding users that they're looking at confidential material--and preventing "spoof attacks," Microsoft says.
May 8, 2003