Deployment of Domain Name System Security Extensions improves global security for .INFO

DUBLIN, IRELAND - 9 September 2010 - Afilias, a global provider of Internet infrastructure services, today announced that it has enabled Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) for the .INFO top-level domain (TLD). .INFO was officially signed on September 1, 2010 and its Delegation Signer (DS) records were entered into the DNS Root by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) on September 4th, allowing the .INFO zone to be validated using DNSSEC. The signing of the .INFO domain enhances global security for the seventh largest TLD in the world, home to more than 6.5 million registrations.

As the industry-wide paradigm shift to cloud computing and software-as-a-service gradually continues to make the transition from buzz to reality, security and availability continue to emerge as the main barriers to customer adoption. A recent ISACA survey of over 1,800 US IT professionals found that only 17 percent believe the benefits of cloud computing outweigh the risks. Only one in 10 respondents said they would consider using software-as-a-service (SaaS) for mission-critical applications.

Afilias plans to deploy Domain Name System Security Extensions in 13 more top-level domains 

If the rise of phishing has taught us anything, it's that on the Internet, if a digital asset has value, there's somebody out there who wants to steal it. Whether it's a bank account password, a credit card number, a PayPal login, or even a magic sword in an online game, there's a fraudster somewhere trying to misappropriate it for his or her own nefarious purposes.

Domain names have always been a target for such criminals. Companies and individuals doing business online have few assets more valuable than their domain name. It may cost $10 or less to register one, but the domain name is the glue that connects a company to its customers; revenue and brand equity depend upon its security.

Afilias' James Galvin will be moderating a panel entitled: e-Crimes and Malicious Use in the DNS: Implications and Observations at the IGF USA conference to be held at the Georgetown Law Center.

This session covers some of very real time examples of the fight against DNS‐related abuse such as phishing, malware and fraudulent uses of domain names. The panel will also comment on the scope and growth expected in various kinds of fraud and abuse as the domain name space continues to grow exponentially.

Afilias' James Galvin will be the main speaker at this Information Systems Security Association event on DNSSEC. The seminar will highlight the advances being made in DNS security, particularly in the adoption and availability of DNSSEC, the DNS Security Extensions. The event will be held at the Camden Court Hotel in Dublin. More info and registration details can be found at the link above.

Afilias' James Galvin will be speaking at the Global Cyber Security Center's first Domain Name Security Workshop on DNSSEC.

Many ccTLD registries are contemplating deploying Domain Name Security Extensions (DNSSEC). This Webinar will review the “lessons learned” from major players in the DNS industry who have taken a leadership position in deploying DNSSEC among TLDs and the Root infrastructure. This Webinar will give you key questions to ask yourself when deciding upon DNSSEC deployment parameters and timeline. It will also give you a good understanding of the infrastructure changes required for your registry and DNS systems to support DNSSEC.

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