Technology milestone heralds a more secure internet
Moves to make the web's address system more secure will take a major step forward next month.
The Domain Name System Security Extentions, DNSSEC, will help protect users from cyber attacks such as phishing and spam.
The security layer will be added to the web's address system in July.
It should close the loophole that allows hackers to intercept DNS data and redirect users to fake websites.
The Domain Name System (DNS) was created in 1984 to allow computers to 'read' web addresses but it had no security features, offering rich pickings for criminals.
"DNSSEC will improve the security of the web so we can have more confidence in the activities on the network as it increasingly becomes part of our working lives and home lives," said Leslie Daigle the chief internet technology officer at the Internet Society, which is the home of the standards body that developed DNSSEC.
The new security extension, DNSSEC, basically works by using cryptograph and digital signatures to verify each query and ensure that each response that is made has not been compromised or intercepted.
Cyber-criminals are increasingly using false DNS servers to intercept legitimate web addresses and redirect users to fake sites, which steal personal information.
"It acts like tamper-proof packaging to make sure if you type in the website name of your bank that you actually get to the machine that your bank wants you to use and not to a machine that looks like that of your bank but is operated by those who want to take you to a different website to steal your log-in details," said Ms Daigle.
The reason this move is being seen as a "technological milestone" in shoring up the web is because, although not visible to most users, DNS is an essential part of the way the internet works.
It acts as the net's address system or phone book by translating website addresses like www.bbc.co.uk into the numerical equivalents preferred by machines.
For full news story please click here