DNS Security

The DNSSEC “Onus of Reality Check” Shifted to gTLD Administrations by ICANN

Last month, there was an exchange of letters between a gTLD administration and ICANN about DNSSEC deployment. This gTLD administration is PIR or Public Interest Registry, the gTLD administration for the .org TLD. Interestingly, PIR is a non-profit organization that makes significant contributions to ISOC (Internet Society) initiatives: thus, both ICANN and PIR are organizations dedicated to the well-being of the Internet. more

DNSSEC Deployment at the Root

The DNSSEC is a security protocol for providing cryptographic assurance (i.e. using the public key cryptography digital signature technology) to the data retrieved from the DNS distributed database (RFC4033). DNSSEC deployment at the root is said to be subject to politics, but there is seldom detailed discussion about this "DNS root signing" politics. Actually, DNSSEC deployment requires more than signing the DNS root zone data; it also involves secure delegations from the root to the TLDs, and DNSSEC deployment by TLD administrations (I omit other participants involvement as my focus is policy around the DNS root). There is a dose of naivety in the idea of detailing the political aspects of the DNS root, but I volunteer! My perspective is an interested observer. more

ICANN Opens Consultation on Security Requirements for DNSSEC DS Automation

ICANN has opened a consultation on security requirements for automated DNSSEC Delegation Signer record management, seeking input on safeguards that could enable faster registry approvals while protecting DNSSEC validation and operational stability. more

Common Beliefs About DNSSEC Put to the Test: An Invitation to Fact-Check Your Assumptions

With its perception still tinged by decade-old notions, DNSSEC in 2026 bears little resemblance to its troubled early years. Here's what the evidence says about its benefits, cost, and availability today. more

DNS Hijacks Across Three ccTLDs Linked to 32 Unauthorized HTTPS Certificates

An examination of certificate transparency logs identified 32 unauthorized HTTPS certificates following DNS hijacks affecting Ghana, Sierra Leone and American Samoa, exposing vulnerabilities in domain validation and the infrastructure supporting trusted web connections. more

ICANN Study Links 56% of Malicious Domains to Related Registrations

ICANN researchers identified associated domains for 56.4% of malicious registrations studied, introducing a public-data detection method that could inform DNS abuse investigations and proposed registrar obligations. more

OpenAI Agent Bypasses Internet Restrictions Through DNS

OpenAI paused tool-enabled work on its most capable models after a research agent bypassed sandbox Internet restrictions by using DNS to communicate with an external chatbot during reinforcement-learning training. more

DNSSEC Validation Climbs Across Africa Ahead of Root Key Rollover

ICANN reports African DNSSEC validation has reached 53%, with Ghana near 98% and Nigeria around 60%, as independent APNIC measurements broadly support the country figures ahead of October's root key rollover. more

The Reporting Gap: What Happens Between a DNS Abuse Complaint and a Takedown

DNS abuse enforcement can stop abusive domains and drive systemic registrar reforms, but reporting barriers, inconsistent response times, and poorly documented complaints leave many phishing sites active before actionable cases ever reach enforcement. more

G7 Cyber Agencies Urge Immediate Post-Quantum Migration Planning

G7 cybersecurity agencies are pressing governments and organizations to inventory cryptographic dependencies and accelerate post-quantum migration as long transition timelines and future quantum attacks threaten Internet security infrastructure. more

From Forgotten to Exploited: How AI Changes the Dangling DNS Threat

Dangling DNS records can expose trusted corporate subdomains to takeover, while AI-assisted reconnaissance makes abandoned resources easier to find, increasing the need for continuous DNS monitoring rather than periodic audits. more

ICANN Terminates Two Registrars as DNS Abuse and Compliance Failures Escalate

ICANN has terminated two registrar accreditation agreements after unresolved compliance failures, citing Trustname's handling of DNS abuse and IPIP's failures involving RDAP, registration data escrow, accreditation fees, and access to non-public registration data. more

ICANN’s New Data Sharpens the Picture of DNS-abuse Enforcement

ICANN's updated DNS-abuse data distinguishes allegations from actionable complaints and malicious registrations from compromised domains, offering a clearer test of whether tougher contractual requirements are strengthening enforcement or simply generating a larger volume of reports. more

Beyond Protocol and Policy: Why Project Jake is Reshaping the Architecture of Internet Trust

Project Jake aims to bridge the divide between internet protocols and policy, offering registries, law enforcement and rights holders a decentralised framework for accessing domain-registration data securely while navigating privacy laws and institutional gridlock. more

Open-Weight AI: Open to Whom?

The push for open-weight AI promises broader access and competition, but true openness requires more than releasing model weights. Compute, infrastructure, training data, security, and control ultimately determine who can meaningfully benefit from open AI. more