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The company is hoping that the new technology called 'info-cards' will give users greater control over their personal data whilst making it a secure way to shop on the Web and use online services

'It's going to put control of digital IDs into the hands of an end-user,' Michael Stephenson, a director of Microsoft's Windows Server division, told Reuters.'The end-user will be in full control.'

He added that the company's aim is to 'make sure that this is as broadly accessible as possible'.

He would not say whether the technology would be available for Windows XP or is part of its successor, Longhorn.

Microsoft's last attempt to introduce a universal ID system, Passport, did not prove the success the company hoped and its days were numbered once eBay stopped accepting it in January of this year.

This latest initiative comes amid increased concerns about data security and a US government probe into whether data brokers require greater regulation.