auDA moves swiftly to protect AUNIC database

Melbourne 19th October 2001:- auDA has moved swiftly to protect security of
the AUNIC database following reports of a breach of security.
auDA operates the AUNIC service to provide access to information about who
owns particular domain names.  It limits bulk access of the system in order
to guard against abuse of the system or improper use by commercial
interests.
>From May of this year the service has been hosted by NetRegistry on auDA's
behalf.  However, following the breach of security and other matters of
concern, auDA's lawyers, Maddock Lonie & Chisholm, terminated the hosting
agreement on auDA's instructions on 10 October.
AUNIC is at present being hosted by Optus and auDA is finalising new backup
and redundancy processes.
NetRegistry was initially appointed to provide hosting services for AUNIC in
response to a request for tender.  In exchange, NetRegistry was allowed to
place its logo on the AUNIC website under strict conditions.  In response to
the recent issues that have arisen the hosting agreement has been
terminated, NetRegistry no longer has its logo on the site and its
involvement with AUNIC has ended.
In view of the fact that auDA's investigation is ongoing and following legal
advice, auDA is unable, at this stage, to provide full details of the breach
of security or the other matters leading to termination of the hosting
agreement.
auDA's CEO, Chris Disspain, said, "auDA will act with vigilance to protect
the security of the AUNIC system, and ensure that the system operates for
the benefit of the Internet community. auDA will do everything in its power
to curb unauthorised access to, and the misuse of, data in AUNIC and the
AUNIC system itself."

-ENDS-

For media contact
Chris Disspain
CEO
auDA
tel: 03 9226 9495
email: ceo§auda.org.au
www.auda.org.au


--
This article is not to be reproduced or quoted beyond this forum without
express permission of the author. 314 subscribers. 
Archived at http://listmaster.iinet.net.au/list/dns (user: dns, pass: dns)
Email "unsubscribe" to dns-request§auda.org.au to be removed.