BrowserID is an easy way to sign into websites. Instead of making up a hard-to-remember username and password for each site, BrowserID lets you use your email address and a single password to sign in to any site that supports it. This article shows you how BrowserID works and how you can get started using it.

How does it work?

When you create a BrowserID account, you're sent a verification email that lets BrowserID know that you really own that email address. Then when you use BrowserID to log into a website, the website is given your email address and told that you really do own it but they are never given your BrowserID password. Basically, BrowserID vouches for you. See this blog post for all the nerdy details.

What are the benefits of BrowserID?

• You can use one easy-to-remember log in for all sites that support BrowserID.
• You never have to trust a website with your password because they never know it. Also, your password can't be stolen if one of those websites gets hacked.
• BrowserID doesn't track your activity on the websites you visit (privacy policy).

How do I create a account?

1. Go to browserid.org and click the Sign up button.
2. Type the email address you want to use when logging into your favorite websites and click the Verify Email button.
   
   
3. In your email, find the confirmation message from BrowserID and click the link they sent to you. You'll be taken to another BrowserID page to complete the sign up.
4. Then, just type a password in the entry fields and click Finish.
   
   

How do I sign in to websites?

Signing in is easy:

1. Click the BrowserID Sign in button on the website you want to access and BrowserID popup window will open.
   
2. Enter your email address and press next.
3. A new box will show up, enter your Browser ID password and click Sign In.

Help, the BrowserID popup window is blank!

If you click Sign in on a website and the BrowserID popup window opens but it's blank, simply close the window and click the Sign in button again. If that doesn't work:

• Make sure that javascript is enabled in your browser
• Make sure that your browser accepts cookies.
• If you're using Firefox, try starting it in Use Troubleshoot Mode in Firefox. If BrowserID works, you may have an add-on that is blocking it. See, Troubleshooting extensions and themes for help.