DNS system is insecure and "can stop any time”? Storm in the cup of tea?

This week addressing the Government Advisory Committee meeting Rod Beckstrom, CEO of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers stated that more concerted efforts are needed to protect the DNS because it is under more attacks, is fragile and vulnerable, and "can stop any time."

Beckstrom touched upon DNS abuse cases by some unspecified countries and promised to write to GAC members for more information and advice on DNS in their countries.

"The domain name system is under attack today as it has never been before. I have personally consulted with over 20 CEOs of the top registries and the top registrars globally, all of whom are seeing increasing attacks and complexity of attacks and who are extremely concerned," Beckstrom said.

In response to these statements of the ICANN head Chris Disspain, chairman of the Country Code Name Supporting Organization (ccNSO) council, expressed his discontent with the "inflammatory" comments that the domain name system is not as secure as it used to be.

"Your inflammatory comments to governmental representatives regarding -- in your view -- the precarious state of the security of the DNS, have the potential to undermine the effective and productive relationships established under ICANN's multi-stakeholder model," said Disspain. "This could cause great concern among governments regarding how elements of critical Internet resources are operated and managed in their countries."

The ccNSO council also expressed concern with Beckstrom's plan to write to governments on whether the DNS is able to withstand attacks, saying that such a process is likely to compromise the way ccTLD managers operate in their countries.