DNS Abuse ICANN Efforts to Combat Online Threats

ICANN is taking a stand against DNS abuse by implementing new policies and procedures to combat online threats. In 2020, ICANN launched the Domain Abuse Activity Reporting (DAAR) system, which allows domain name registrars to report suspected abuse cases to the relevant authorities.

The DAAR system has already shown promising results, with over 100,000 abuse reports submitted in the first year alone. This is a significant step forward in the fight against DNS abuse, and it's clear that ICANN is committed to protecting the online community.

ICANN is also working with law enforcement agencies and other organizations to share information and best practices for combating DNS abuse. This collaborative approach is crucial in staying ahead of the threats and protecting the integrity of the internet.

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DNS Abuse refers to a broad category of harmful activities that intersect with the Domain Name System (DNS). These activities include malware, botnets, phishing, pharming, and spam.

ICANN defines DNS Abuse, and according to their definition, it's composed of five categories of harmful activity. These categories are the foundation of what we consider DNS Abuse.

Malware is a type of malicious software that can harm your device. It's one of the five categories of DNS Abuse, and it can be used to redirect victims to fraudulent sites.

Botnets are networks of infected devices controlled by an attacker. They're often used to spread malware and are a form of DNS Abuse.

Phishing is a type of cyber attack that tricks users into entering personal information. It differs from pharming, which involves modifying DNS entries to redirect users to fraudulent sites.

Pharming can occur through DNS hijacking or poisoning. DNS hijacking happens when attackers use malware to redirect victims to their site, while DNS poisoning causes a DNS server or resolver to respond with a false IP address bearing malware.

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ICANN org is committed to combating DNS Abuse through a three-pronged approach. This includes contributing data and expertise to fact-based discussions, providing tools to the ICANN community, and enforcing contractual obligations with registries and registrars.

ICANN's Bylaws prohibit the organization from imposing rules and restrictions on services that use the Internet's unique identifiers or the content that such services carry, except in narrow circumstances.

ICANN coordinates the allocation and assignment of names in the root zone of the DNS and coordinates the development and implementation of policies concerning the registration of second-level domain names.

ICANN's Domain Abuse Activity Reporting (DAAR) project is a system for studying and reporting on domain name registration and security threats across top-level domain registries.

The DAAR system collects TLD zone data and complements these data sets with high-confidence Reputation Block List (RBL) security threat data feeds from 3rd party providers.

Here are the three components of ICANN's approach to combating DNS Abuse:

Reporting Abuse is a crucial step in preventing the spread of DNS Abuse. You can report DNS Abuse directly to Verisign.

To do so, complete the webform on Verisign's website for their review. This will help ensure that your report is thorough and complete. Incomplete reports may hinder or prevent an investigation and/or response.

Verisign also accepts DNS Abuse reports by mail, addressed to VeriSign, Inc. at 12061 Bluemont Way, Reston, VA 20190. If you're unsure about where to start, you can try addressing the alleged abuse with the registrar of record for the second-level domain name being reported.

If you're looking to report other forms of malicious conduct that aren't DNS Abuse, you can visit Verisign's Legal Notices page for more information.

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Verisign is committed to keeping the Domain Name System safe, and they take their responsibilities seriously by addressing DNS Abuse at the registry level.

DNS Abuse is defined by ICANN as being composed of five broad categories of harmful activity: malware, botnets, phishing, pharming, and spam that serves as a delivery mechanism for those other forms of DNS Abuse.

The Internet Watch Foundation's former CEO, Susie Hargreaves, emphasizes the importance of addressing DNS Abuse at the registry level to ensure a secure, stable, and resilient internet.

These categories of DNS Abuse can have serious consequences, and it's essential to be aware of them to protect yourself online.

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ICANN is responsible for overseeing the global domain name system (DNS).

ICANN sets the rules and guidelines for domain name registration, which helps prevent DNS abuse.

ICANN also works with the global internet community to develop policies that address DNS abuse.

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ICANN Contractual Compliance can now investigate registrars who fail to act upon mitigating malicious domain names they sponsor, thanks to the proposed changes to the RAA.

The proposed changes to the RAA require registrars to take action, not just review reports of DNS abuse. This is a significant shift from the current contract.

Registrars must now promptly take the appropriate mitigation action(s) that are reasonably necessary to stop or otherwise disrupt the Registered Name from being used for DNS Abuse.

ICANN's role is to enforce the RAA and ensure registrars comply with the proposed changes.

Verisign works actively to combat DNS Abuse through partnerships and collaborations. They have entered into a binding letter of intent with ICANN to tackle online security threats and develop best practices.

Their unique infrastructure is constantly evolving to address new cybersecurity threats, including sinkhole servers and DDoS mitigation mechanisms. This helps mitigate the harm caused by malicious actors to internet users worldwide.

Since 2020, Verisign has been a valuable partner for the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), taking rapid action to tackle child sexual abuse material online. They appreciate the seriousness with which Verisign approaches this issue.

As a top-level domain (TLD) registry operator, Verisign has contractual commitments to operate the .com infrastructure in a content-neutral manner.

Here are some specific ways Verisign addresses illegal online content:

In May 2023, ICANN proposed a set of amendments to registry and registrar contracts to target DNS abuse more effectively. This marks a crucial step towards mitigating internet abuse and cybercrime.

ICANN's call for comments on these amendments has now closed. The proposed changes aim to address internet abuse and cybercrime more proactively.

Registries and registrars play a vital role in mitigating, disrupting, and preventing various forms of internet abuse, cybercrime, and malicious activity. This is because many of these activities depend on the availability of at least one domain name to succeed.

Domain names are a crucial component in activities like regular phishing, malware delivery, and state-sponsored espionage. Without a domain name, these efforts often cannot succeed.

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