Are google mail and outlook open authentication

Google Mail (Gmail) and Microsoft Outlook (formerly Hotmail) are not open authentication protocols. Here's why:

  1. Google Mail (Gmail): Gmail uses OAuth 2.0, which is an authorization framework that allows users to grant third-party applications limited access to their Google account data without sharing their login credentials. OAuth 2.0 is an open standard, but it's not an open authentication protocol in the classical sense. Instead, it's a way for users to authorize third-party apps to access their Google account data.
  2. Microsoft Outlook (formerly Hotmail): Outlook.com uses OAuth 2.0 as well, similar to Gmail. However, it also supports other authentication protocols like OpenID Connect (OIDC) and SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language). OIDC is an open standard for authentication and authorization, but it's not a traditional open authentication protocol like Kerberos or RADIUS.

What are open authentication protocols?

Open authentication protocols are standardized protocols that allow users to authenticate with a server or service without relying on a specific vendor or implementation. Examples of open authentication protocols include:

  1. Kerberos: A widely used authentication protocol developed by MIT that allows users to authenticate with a server or service using a ticket-based system.
  2. RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service): A protocol used for authenticating and authorizing users to access network resources, such as Wi-Fi networks or VPNs.
  3. LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol): A protocol used for accessing and managing directory services, such as user authentication and authorization.

In summary, while Gmail and Outlook.com use open standards like OAuth 2.0, they are not open authentication protocols in the classical sense. If you're looking for open authentication protocols, you may want to consider alternatives like Kerberos, RADIUS, or LDAP.