France Identity, the application containing a digital equivalent of the identity card, integrates the FranceConnect authentication platform, thus making it possible to connect in a simpler and more secure way to 1400 official sites.
As it had promised, the Government is continuing to digitize public services with France Identity. Associated with the SGIN, the Digital Identity Guarantee Service – its digital authentication service, this mobile application is ultimately intended to replace the physical identity card with a digital equivalent, stored on a smartphone – without replacing it entirely, we hope… Currently available in beta version on Android and iOS, France Identity has been evolving since November 21, 2022 to be compatible with FranceConnect, the platform that allows any citizen to identify with more thana thousand online services, public or private (Ameli, Taxes, La Poste, MaPrimeRénov’, CAF, Pôle Emploi, Yris, MSA, etc.), in order to reinforce the security of the connection. Indeed, to connect to all these sites, the user will simply need a six-digit code and his digital identity card. A way to increase security and avoid identity theft by replacing usernames and passwords, but also to simplify and modernize administrative tasks thanks to dematerialization.
France Identity: enhanced security for FranceConnect
France Identity has just integrated the France Connect platform. As explains the governmentit thus allows “to access more than 1,400 online services in a simpler and more secure way than some existing identity providers”. No need for a username or password to access the authentication platform, but only your digital identity card – France Identity, therefore – and a six-digit personal code. Subsequently, this code can be replaced by biometric authentication, in order to simplify and further secure identity verification. Improvements will also be deployed later to make navigation between FranceConnect and France Identity more fluid.
But why is France Identity a more secure way to log in? Quite simply because it does not have an identifier, which limits the risk of hacking and phishing attacks – which consists of stealing identifiers by trickery, most often via an email, an SMS or a fake login page. . After three unsuccessful login attempts, the digital card is blocked, and you must again proceed to identity verification to unblock it. Finally, for those who wish, it is possible to activate a double authentication factor via the identity card and a double factor security code.
FranceConnect: how to connect with France Identity?
The France Identity application is absolutely not mandatory and is only intended to simplify the life of the user. It aims to replace the physical identity card – which you are more likely to forget than your smartphone – in order to centralize all the information in one place, and share it more easily. However, several conditions must be met in order to use it. It is absolutely necessary to have a smartphone equipped with an NFC chip – the “contactless” technology also used on bank cards and transport tickets – and a national electronic identity card of the latest generation, which is available since August 2, 2021. So not everyone can enjoy the app at the moment. Also, the app is only available in beta for now. In fact, only a handful of users can currently access this new method. So much the better: they will serve as “guinea pigs” to try out the latest casts during this test phase.
Here is the procedure to follow to authenticate yourself to France Connect with France Identity.
► With a Web browser or an application, go to a site or an online service offering identification via France Connect. Click on the button France Connect then choose the option Log in using my identity card.
► If you are using a computer, scan the QR code that is displayed from the France Identity mobile application and consent to the sending of your personal information by pressing the blue button Accept.
► If you are using mobile, just tap Open app.
► Enter your six-digit personal code and read your contactless identity card, with NFC – there is nothing to do, reading is automatic if the NFC function is activated on the smartphone.
