New names suggested for more security

New domain names could assist greatly to combat phishing scams if used in conjunction with ongoing security initiatives.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is considering several domain names for different industries that would result in high-security Web sites.

“The idea is that certain names that create the impression of association with a financial institution (for example .bank) would be required to be 'high-security zones'. This does not mean that ICANN will definitely set up a .bank GTLD [generic top level domain], but rather that, if there is interest from the banking community, they could set it up under certain key requirements of a 'high-security zone',” says director of the .za Domain Name Authority Mike Silber.

This means only legitimate financial services providers could use the high-security zone, Silber explains. Phishers and other criminals would be prevented from registering names in that zone, and this would hopefully prevent them from creating the impression that they are somehow legitimate and thus able to dupe clients.

Various qualification criteria would differentiate an application to the high-security zone from the current GLTD application process, which consists of simply checking availability, filling in a Web form and paying the fee.

Because of strict application procedures, users would know for certain that they're on the right site when they see these domain names, according to Silber.

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