The Web's leading standards group approved on Tuesday two XML encryption
specifications, a move that promises to boost the development of secure Web
services.

The two specs, XML Encryption Syntax and Processing and Decryption Transform
for XML Signature, will enable Web pages using Extensible Markup Language to
encrypt parts of a document being exchanged between Web sites, the World Wide
Web Consortium said.

While other methods exist for encrypting XML documents, the W3C's
specifications make it possible to encrypt selected sections or elements of a
document--for instance, a credit card number entered in an XML form.

"This provides a way to identify parts of an XML document that may be secured
by the author, so you can choose the parts that are most important and encrypt
those," said W3C representative Janet Daly.


*cough*, prepare to be trusted...