Core internet infrastructure plagued by 'multifaceted' attacks: Details here
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which is the organization responsible for managing internet addresses, claims the core infrastructure of the internet is under attack. ICANN has issued a warning noting that the key parts of the DNS infrastructure are at risk of attacks and have to be protected with a new technique. Here's more on this issue and ICANN's potential solution.
Multifaceted attacks against DNS infrastructure
According to ICANN, the DNS, which converts numerical internet addresses into domains, faces an ongoing risk from hackers who have carried out multifaceted attacks against the system. Notably, reports of DNS attacks have increased lately, with most being associated with state-sponsored actors. They employ various techniques, including typical man-in-the-middle attacks where DNS records are hijacked in bulk to reroute domain visitors to malicious servers.
One case of a DNS attack
In January, security companies reported that hackers likely associated with Iran carried out these man-in-the-middle attacks to steal passwords of those associated with the government of Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates.
However, ICANN has a solution
In a bid to protect such attacks, ICANN has advised website owners to deploy DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) across all domains. This technology digitally signs the data to ensure its validity and protects against most man-in-the-middle and related attacks, TechCrunch reported. However, it's worth noting that DNSSEC only makes attacks more difficult to carry out, not impossible.
Current, DNSSEC adoption at 20%
Currently, DNSSEC adoption sits at 20% with just 3% of Fortune 1,000 companies using the tech. However, these numbers are expected to increase in the wake of ICANN's warning and subsequent efforts. As its next step, the organization plans to hold an event in Kobe, Japan, to discuss the risks faced by the DNS infrastructure and the possible tools and policies to secure it.
