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Domain Names
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Public Interest Registry (PIR), one of the more progressive
domain extensions, may be the first major top level domain extension to adopt
the DNA Security Extension (DNSSEC) on .ORG top level domains. The system is a
method of authentication that helps to ensure that clients (such as a home
computer) requesting a particular domain name is sent to the appropriate IP
address hosting that website.
For example, if a home computer enters
http://www.cyberlaw.pro in their web browser, they want to be sure that they
are sent to this CyberLaw PC website instead of a competitor or a forgery. The
“standard” DNS system takes a user’s request for a particular domain name,
checks it against a database of IP addresses, matches the appropriate IP to the
domain name, and sends the user to the appropriate web page. DNSSEC creates an
additional protection by digitally signing the information sent from the DNS
server to the user. This additional layer of security helps to prevent against
forgeries or similar criminal or fraudulent efforts.
The system has been implemented by several country-specific
TLD with some success, and potential expansion is now being considered. ICANN
(The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is currently
accepting public comments on the system.
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