THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF ONLINE IDENTITY SECURITY

Online identity security is an important and evolving field that combines cybersecurity concepts, authentication systems, privacy concepts, and decentralized identity management. This chapter explores the theoretical underpinnings of online identity security, namely, Identity and Access Management (IAM), the zero-trust security paradigm, and self-sovereign identity (SSI). It also covers privacy theories, such as Nissenbaum’s contextual integrity and the privacy paradox, which emphasize the difficulties of protecting personal data in digital contexts. Emerging threats such as identity theft, zero-day vulnerabilities, and AI-driven fraud, are examined in the context of cybersecurity resilience. This study examines the role of blockchain-based identity verification and AI-powered authentication systems in improving security while addressing ethical concerns about algorithmic bias and surveillance capitalism. This research adopts an interdisciplinary approach to balancing security, usability and legal compliance in current identity management frameworks. The findings highlight the necessity for continued developments in identity security to counter evolving digital threats while protecting privacy and user autonomy.