Re: A local built-in DID method name for public key lookup

On 06/06/2018 11:30 AM, Chris Boscolo wrote:
> We should define a DID method name called *"local"*or *"self"*where 
> the /specific-idstring/ is a secp256k1 public key.

This method would be:

1) susceptible to stolen key attacks and wouldn't allow key rotation,
    and
2) favor a very specific type of public key, which is a bad
    security design practice.

We've explored this a bit in the past. You can address these
shortcomings by just making this mechanism a part of the DID method. You
can have public-keys-as-DIDs, but you also MUST enable the DID Document
to be updated to deal w/ stolen key attacks.

> This way, individuals can useDIDsthat are TRULY self-sovereign, 
> albeit limited, to just the public key lookup without any way to 
> update it.

Again, this is very dangerous and I suggest that no one expose their
constituency to this sort of attack.

> I know that several DID implementors (uPort/lifeID) are already 
> supporting a way to have DIDs start their life off-chain which was a 
> seed thought for this idea.

Veres One and Sovrin have this feature as well... start off-chain and
enable a migration to on-chain (in the event that you want to prevent
the stolen key attack).

I suggest we leave this as a DID Method feature.

-- manu

-- 
Manu Sporny (skype: msporny, twitter: manusporny)
Founder/CEO - Digital Bazaar, Inc.
blog: Veres One Decentralized Identifier Blockchain Launches
https://tinyurl.com/veres-one-launches

Received on Thursday, 7 June 2018 00:59:43 UTC