Hello Australia!

 

This is the final news for 2014. I hope you all enjoy the Christmas and new year break with your family and friends, and the news will return in the week commencing 5 January 2015!

 

Cheers

David

 

 

***************************************************

 

The domain name news is supported by auDA

 

***************************************************

 

 

nz: Top 10 Predictions for the Internet in 2015

< <https://internetnz.nz/blog/top-10-predictions-internet-2015> https://internetnz.nz/blog/top-10-predictions-internet-2015>

 

Split could force NetMundial Initiative back to the drawing board

< <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/22/netmundial_initiative_to_head_back_to_the_drawing_board/> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/22/netmundial_initiative_to_head_back_to_the_drawing_board/>

 

IANA Systems Not Compromised

< <https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2014-12-19-en> https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2014-12-19-en>

 

ICANN: The TRUTH about that hacker attack on our DNS zone file database

< <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/19/icann_stresses_critical_internet_systems_not_hacked/> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/19/icann_stresses_critical_internet_systems_not_hacked/>

 

The Changing Landscape of Brand Protection in 2014

< <http://domainnamestrategy.com/2014/12/15/the-changing-landscape-of-brand-protection-in-2014/> http://domainnamestrategy.com/2014/12/15/the-changing-landscape-of-brand-protection-in-2014/>

 

Looking Back on 2014

< <http://gtldstrategy.com/2014/12/15/looking-back-on-2014/> http://gtldstrategy.com/2014/12/15/looking-back-on-2014/>

 

What?s Really New in the New gTLD Space?

< <http://blogs.verisigninc.com/blog/entry/what_s_really_new_in> http://blogs.verisigninc.com/blog/entry/what_s_really_new_in>

 

Most new gTLDs use NameSentry after Famous Four signs with Architelos

< <http://domainincite.com/17800-most-new-gtlds-use-namesentry-after-famous-four-signs-with-architelos> http://domainincite.com/17800-most-new-gtlds-use-namesentry-after-famous-four-signs-with-architelos>

 

New from Verisign Labs: What?s in your attack surface?

< <http://blogs.verisigninc.com/blog/entry/new_from_verisign_labs_what> http://blogs.verisigninc.com/blog/entry/new_from_verisign_labs_what>

 

Hackers are going after the Internet?s very infrastructure. Here?s why that matters.

< <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/12/19/hackers-are-going-after-the-internets-very-infrastructure-heres-why-that-matters/> http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/12/19/hackers-are-going-after-the-internets-very-infrastructure-heres-why-that-matters/>

 

 

**********************

GOVERNANCE

**********************

nz: Top 10 Predictions for the Internet in 2015

It's awfully difficult to see a month ahead in this industry sometimes, let alone trying to predict a year out... But anyway! In the spirit of bravery, and almost certainly being proven wrong on many of these, here are InternetNZ's Top 10 Predictions for the Internet in 2015. ... 9. ICANN will get to grips with becoming more accountable. Most in the Internet Community probably already know about the IANA transition to ICANN, and what that means for Internet Governance globally. An important sub-theme in this transition is ensuring that ICANN has structures and processes in place to ensure it remains accountable to the international Internet Community that it serves.

< <https://internetnz.nz/blog/top-10-predictions-internet-2015> https://internetnz.nz/blog/top-10-predictions-internet-2015>

 

Split could force NetMundial Initiative back to the drawing board

The controversial NetMundial Initiative (NMI) may be heading back to the drawing board following a meeting of the internet's big cheeses in Washington last week.

< <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/22/netmundial_initiative_to_head_back_to_the_drawing_board/> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/22/netmundial_initiative_to_head_back_to_the_drawing_board/>

 

Why is ICANN rushing its 'UN 'net security council'? So it can be announced at Davos

Despite rejections from its closest allies and calls for delay, ICANN is determined to create a "coordination council" for its internet-steering NetMundial Initiative this month. Why?

< <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/17/why_the_netmundial_rush_so_it_can_be_announced_at_davos/> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/17/why_the_netmundial_rush_so_it_can_be_announced_at_davos/>

 

Protecting the Internet From Government Control

Internet governance is at an inflection point and debate about the fundamental structure of the Internet is ramping up. This debate, now being had in the United Nations, Internet Governance Forum, ICANN and other organizations, will affect global business models relying on networked technologies and freedom of expression and privacy. The multi-stakeholder systems of Internet governance ? which includes the private sector, civil society, governments, research institutions and non-government organizations in decision making ? has made the Internet a transformative technology.

< <http://recode.net/2014/12/18/protecting-the-internet-from-government-control/> http://recode.net/2014/12/18/protecting-the-internet-from-government-control/>

 

Congress defunds ICANN/IANA governance transition

Inspired by a belief that ICANN and IANA extend First Amendment protections to Internet users worldwide, representatives in Congress successfully thwart budget provisions for a transition plan.

< <http://www.fierceenterprisecommunications.com/story/congress-defunds-icanniana-governance-transition/2014-12-18> http://www.fierceenterprisecommunications.com/story/congress-defunds-icanniana-governance-transition/2014-12-18>

 

IANA Stewardship: Give Feedback on the Draft Proposal From the RIR Communities

The Consolidated RIR IANA Stewardship Proposal (CRISP) team has published the first draft of an Internet numbers community proposal for the future of the IANA stewardship.

< <http://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/announcements/iana-stewardship-give-feedback-on-the-draft-rir-communities-proposal> http://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/announcements/iana-stewardship-give-feedback-on-the-draft-rir-communities-proposal>

 

First Draft Proposal of the Internet Number Community for the IANA Stewardship Coordination Group.

The first draft of the Internet numbers community?s response to the Request For Proposals issued by the IANA Stewardship Coordination Group (ICG) is now published. This draft has been prepared by the Consolidated RIR IANA Stewardship Proposal (CRISP) team, and we are now seeking feedback on this draft from the global community.

< <https://www.nro.net/news/first-draft-proposal-of-the-internet-number-community-for-the-iana-stewardship-coordination-group> https://www.nro.net/news/first-draft-proposal-of-the-internet-number-community-for-the-iana-stewardship-coordination-group>

 

Background to the IANA Stewardship Transition

Most folks are now aware of the IANA stewardship transition - the planned transition of the oversight of the IANA functions by the US Government to the Internet community, announced by the NTIA in March 2014.

< <http://blog.apnic.net/2014/12/17/background-to-the-iana-stewardship-transition/> http://blog.apnic.net/2014/12/17/background-to-the-iana-stewardship-transition/>

 

Congress defunds Internet giveaway

No sooner had the omnibus bill?s language been dropped, including language defunding the Internet giveaway, than advocates were urging the National Information and Telecommunications Administration (NTIA) to simply ignore the clear prohibition, originally authored by Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wisc.).

< <http://www.claiborneprogress.net/news/opinion_columns/150887551/Congress-defunds-Internet-giveaway> http://www.claiborneprogress.net/news/opinion_columns/150887551/Congress-defunds-Internet-giveaway>

 

**********************

DOMAIN NAMES

**********************

**********************

- ICANN

**********************

IANA Systems Not Compromised

As ICANN reported on 16 December 2014, it was recently the target of a so-called "spear phishing" attack. During this attack the email credentials of some ICANN staff were compromised.

< <https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2014-12-19-en> https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2014-12-19-en>

 

New gTLD Auction Proceeds

Auctions are the mechanism of last resort to resolve string contention within the New gTLD Program. ICANN expects that most string contention will be resolved through other means before reaching an Auction conducted by ICANN's authorized Auction service provider, Power Auctions LLC.

< <http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/auctions/proceeds> http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/auctions/proceeds>

 

ICANN Donates $50k to Internet Governance Forum Support Association

ICANN announced today that it has donated USD$50,000 to the Internet Governance Forum Support Association (IGFSA).

< <https://www.icann.org/resources/press-material/release-2014-12-18-en> https://www.icann.org/resources/press-material/release-2014-12-18-en>

 

WHOIS Accuracy Pilot Study Report

Purpose (Brief): The WHOIS Pilot Accuracy Study Report highlights the design, methodology and findings of a pilot study commissioned by ICANN to inform the design of its WHOIS Accuracy Reporting System.

< <https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2014-12-23-en> https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2014-12-23-en>

 

Request for Proposal for Web Accessibility Assessment for ICANN.org

ICANN is seeking one or more providers to conduct an assessment of website accessibility including ICANN.org and possibly the related subsidiary websites. The selected provider(s) will provide an initial assessment of ICANN's websites for meeting internationally recognized W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) v2.0 Level AA and include an identification of tools, best practices, processes, and strategy for implementation.

< <https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2014-12-23-en> https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2014-12-23-en>

 

Cherine Chalaby, Chair | ICANN Board New gTLD Program Committee, to Alan Greenberg

ALAC Statement on Public Interest Commitments

< <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/chalaby-to-greenberg-19dec14-en.pdf> https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/chalaby-to-greenberg-19dec14-en.pdf>

 

Craig Schwartz, Managing Director | fTLD Registry Services, LLC, to Stephen Crocker

Financial Regulated New gTLDs

< <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/schwartz-to-crocker-19dec14-en.pdf> https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/schwartz-to-crocker-19dec14-en.pdf>

 

Monthly Update by Theresa Swinehart

It's hard to believe that 2014 is already coming to a close. This past year has been monumental towards validating the strength of the multistakeholder model, the true test beginning on March 14 with the announcement by NTIA of its intention to transition its stewardship of the IANA functions. Now at year's end, I am very pleased with the effort the community has made to inform and develop two global processes to achieve a successful transition.

< <https://www.icann.org/news/blog/monthly-update-by-theresa-swinehart-3820ccd0-5c5c-43dc-a40f-9e74d6af3598> https://www.icann.org/news/blog/monthly-update-by-theresa-swinehart-3820ccd0-5c5c-43dc-a40f-9e74d6af3598>

 

Global Domains Division Holiday Schedule by Akram Atallah

What a productive year it's been for ICANN and the Internet community. In 2014, ICANN held its first quarterly stakeholder call and our meetings in Singapore, London and Los Angeles surpassed all previous meetings in terms of participation.

< <https://www.icann.org/news/blog/global-domains-division-holiday-schedule-en> https://www.icann.org/news/blog/global-domains-division-holiday-schedule-en>

 

A Holiday Message from ICANN to the Community

Please click here to view the message from ICANN President and CEO Fadi Chehad?.

< <https://www.icann.org/news/blog/a-holiday-message-from-icann-to-the-community> https://www.icann.org/news/blog/a-holiday-message-from-icann-to-the-community>

 

ICANN: The TRUTH about that hacker attack on our DNS zone file database

The internet's critical IANA body ? which allocate IP addresses and manage global DNS ? was not compromised by hackers who broke into domain-name overseer ICANN's systems, the organization has stressed.

< <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/19/icann_stresses_critical_internet_systems_not_hacked/> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/19/icann_stresses_critical_internet_systems_not_hacked/>

 

Just How Bad Was the ICANN Database Breach?

ICANN has been hacked. The nonprofit organization that manages several databases of domain names is investigating a system intrusion that compromised its domain name servers.

< <http://www.cio-today.com/article/index.php?story_id=102003A8RP3O> http://www.cio-today.com/article/index.php?story_id=102003A8RP3O>

 

**********************

- ccTLD & gTLD NEWS

**********************

.aeDA Registrar Market Share 2014

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has released data revealed by the .ae Domain Administration (aeDA) on the UAE?s registrar market share, unveiling the .ae domain name registration for the period between January and August 2014.

< <http://aeda.ae/aeda/eng/news.php?id=112> http://aeda.ae/aeda/eng/news.php?id=112>

 

Austria Loves .AT Campaign Builds Awareness of Country's ccTLD

The Austrian registry nic.at conducted an awareness campaign appealing to the country?s sense of patriotism, and saw the ccTLD?s brand awareness rise among registrants.

< <http://www.domainpulse.com/2014/12/23/austria-loves-at/> http://www.domainpulse.com/2014/12/23/austria-loves-at/>

< <http://www.domainnews.com/austria-loves-at.html> http://www.domainnews.com/austria-loves-at.html>

 

The year in review - the new .at-report is online now!

In the last .at-report for this year we look back to an eventful past year. On the last page you will find the Highlights of the year: The Domain pulse in February in Salzburg, the successful ISO-27001 certification and a lot of conferences and events. We are very happy to welcome three new employees at our office in Salzburg!

< <https://www.nic.at/en/aboutnic/current-issues/nicat-news/news-view/article/jahresrueckblick-2014-der-neue-at-report-ist-da/?cHash=c8a16d4b6bffe130c24d190a710a6958> https://www.nic.at/en/aboutnic/current-issues/nicat-news/news-view/article//jahresrueckblick-2014-der-neue-at-report-ist-da/?cHash=c8a16d4b6bffe130c24d190a710a6958>

 

Registrations Of .EU Domains Continue To Grow Healthily

The total number of .eu registrations grew by 4.7 percent in the third quarter of 2014 compared with the same quarter last year, according to the progress report released last week by the .eu registry EURid.

< <http://www.domainpulse.com/2014/12/22/registrations-eu-grow-healthily/> http://www.domainpulse.com/2014/12/22/registrations-eu-grow-healthily/>

< <http://www.domainnews.com/registrations-of-eu-domains-continue-to-grow-healthily.html> http://www.domainnews.com/registrations-of-eu-domains-continue-to-grow-healthily.html>

 

Total .EU Registrations Up 4.7 Percent in Q3 2014: Report

Total registrations of .eu domains were up by 4.7 percent in the third quarter of 2014 compared to Q3 2013, according to a report last week by .eu registry EURid.

< <http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/total-eu-registrations-4-7-percent-q3-2014-report> http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/total-eu-registrations-4-7-percent-q3-2014-report>

 

Eurid reports .eu registrations up 4.7% in Q3

The total number of .eu registrations grew by 4.7 percent in Q3 compared with the same quarter last year, according to the progress report released by the .eu registry EURid.

< <http://www.telecompaper.com/news/eurid-reports-eu-registrations-up-47-in-q3--1056106> http://www.telecompaper.com/news/eurid-reports-eu-registrations-up-47-in-q3--1056106>

 

Q3 2014 .eu progress report now available

The total number of .eu registrations grew by 4.7% in Q3 2014 compared with the same quarter last year, according to the progress report released today by the .eu registry EURid.

< <http://www.eurid.eu/en/news/dec-2014/q3-2014-eu-progress-report-now-available> http://www.eurid.eu/en/news/dec-2014/q3-2014-eu-progress-report-now-available>

 

it: Marketing Campaign

January 2015 will see the launch of a marketing campaign for Registro.it, dedicated to raising awareness about the use of the Internet, with a special focus on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

< <http://www.nic.it/everything-on.it/news/campagna-marketing> http://www.nic.it/everything-on.it/news/campagna-marketing>

 

no: Users still satisfied

The survey measures customer satisfaction among registrars and domain holders, and was conducted by Sentio in November 2014. The main conclusion compared to other surveys is that both registrars and holders are more satisfied with Norid and the services we offer than at the last survey.

< <http://www.norid.no/statistikk/su/kundetilfredshet-2014.en.html> http://www.norid.no/statistikk/su/kundetilfredshet-2014.en.html>

 

**********************

- NEW TLDS

**********************

The Changing Landscape of Brand Protection in 2014

As 2014 draws to a close, I look back on the monumental changes that have happened in the domain name space and in brand protection over the past year. At this time last year, the general public was still limited to registering in TLDs such as .com, .net, and .info, as well as a handful of country-code domains.

< <http://domainnamestrategy.com/2014/12/15/the-changing-landscape-of-brand-protection-in-2014/> http://domainnamestrategy.com/2014/12/15/the-changing-landscape-of-brand-protection-in-2014/>

 

Looking Back on 2014

2014 was a year for ICANN to take stock, deliberate, and realize significant progress in its management of new gTLDs. Delegation did not take place at the rate that ICANN had predicted, but instead, the organization worked through key milestones and developments of its own process and the New gTLD Program.

< <http://gtldstrategy.com/2014/12/15/looking-back-on-2014/> http://gtldstrategy.com/2014/12/15/looking-back-on-2014/>

 

What?s Really New in the New gTLD Space?

As someone who has long studied trends in the domain name industry, the opening of hundreds of new gTLDs has intrigued me for quite some time on many levels. One question I found myself pondering was: Will new gTLDs create ?new? naming trends or redundant domains across many TLDs? With more than 3 million domains delegated in the new TLD space there is now a corpus to study to answer this question.

< <http://blogs.verisigninc.com/blog/entry/what_s_really_new_in> http://blogs.verisigninc.com/blog/entry/what_s_really_new_in>

 

Fancy a .trust domain? How's $150,000 sound?

The NCC Group has revealed how much it expects to sell new .trust domains for: $150,000. And that's just the wholesale price.

< <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/22/trust_domains_to_cost_150000_a_pop/> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/22/trust_domains_to_cost_150000_a_pop/>

 

Landrush: generic .vlaanderen and .brussels domain names now available

Are football.vlaanderen and shopping.brussels still available? Starting today, everyone has the opportunity to grab their favourite .vlaanderen or .brussels domain name. And if there is more than one applicant for any particular domain name, that name will then go up for auction.

< <http://www.dnsbelgium.be/en/news/landrush-generic-vlaanderen-and-brussels-domain-names-now-available> http://www.dnsbelgium.be/en/news/landrush-generic-vlaanderen-and-brussels-domain-names-now-available>

 

Will more contested TLDs get more registrations?

I commonly hear that the best is yet to come in terms of new TLD launches. The most heavily contested applications are just getting resolved, and these represent the best TLDs.

< <http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/19/will-more-contested-tlds-get-more-registrations/> http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/19/will-more-contested-tlds-get-more-registrations/>

 

Most new gTLDs use NameSentry after Famous Four signs with Architelos

Architelos yesterday announced that Famous Four Media has signed up to use its NameSentry security service across its portfolio of new gTLDs.

< <http://domainincite.com/17800-most-new-gtlds-use-namesentry-after-famous-four-signs-with-architelos> http://domainincite.com/17800-most-new-gtlds-use-namesentry-after-famous-four-signs-with-architelos>

 

NameSentry? Adopted by Over 60% of New TLDs Launched

Architelos, Inc., the premier provider of automated domain name abuse detection and mitigation services, has added Famous Four Media to its expanding roster of NameSentry clients.

< <http://architelos.com/most-new-gtlds-use-namesentry-after-famous-four-signs-with-architelos/> http://architelos.com/most-new-gtlds-use-namesentry-after-famous-four-signs-with-architelos/>

 

Google swears no search leg up for new dot-word sites: We drill into claims

Google has reiterated its claim that there is no inherent advantage to new TLDs ? such as .london or .book ? when it comes to topping search rankings.

< <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/18/google_swears_new_tlds_dont_give_search_advantage/> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/18/google_swears_new_tlds_dont_give_search_advantage/>

 

Last chance for Welsh businesses to get their priority applications in for .cymru and .wales before Christmas Eve

It?s last orders this week for businesses operating in Wales to make their priority applications for the new .cymru and .wales domain names, applications close at midday on 24 December 2014.

< <http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/last-chance-welsh-businesses-get-their-priority-applications-cymru-and-wales-christmas> http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/last-chance-welsh-businesses-get-their-priority-applications-cymru-and-wales-christmas>

 

New TLDs this week: Two launch on Christmas Eve

Two new TLDs launch this week, both on Christmas Eve and both from Rightside.

< <http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/22/new-tlds-this-week-two-launch-on-christmas-eve/> http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/22/new-tlds-this-week-two-launch-on-christmas-eve/>

 

Domain Name Aftermarket with Joe Uddeme ? DNWP Episode 012

How did new TLDs affect .com domain name sales in 2014? What impact will they have in 2015? You might be surprised by the answer.

< <http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/22/domain-name-aftermarket-with-joe-uddeme-dnwp-episode-012/> http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/22/domain-name-aftermarket-with-joe-uddeme-dnwp-episode-012/>

 

My first .Cards spam, which might actually be a good thing for new TLDs

Over the summer I received a spam email linking to a .club domain name. The spam didn?t really have anything to do with .club; the domain choice seemed random. The .Club registry acted quickly to take action against the domain name, which is rather unusual for a registry.

< <http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/22/my-first-cards-spam/> http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/22/my-first-cards-spam/>

 

.Club raising more money, valued at $25.4 million

The .Club TLD registry is raising more funds, and the latest round will value the company at $25.4 million after the investment closes.

< <http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/18/club-raising-more-money-valued-at-25-4-million/> http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/18/club-raising-more-money-valued-at-25-4-million/>

 

.baby and .mls fetch over $3 million each

ICANN and Power Auctions have completed December?s mini-batch of ?last resort? new gTLD auctions, adding a total of $6.4 million to its mysterious auction cash pile.

< <http://domainincite.com/17804-baby-and-mls-fetch-over-3-million-each> http://domainincite.com/17804-baby-and-mls-fetch-over-3-million-each>

 

The Empire Strikes Back: "New" Verisign Hums a Familiar Tune by Paul Stahura

Losing your monopoly must be hard. True, few companies ever experience that particular breed of angst, but if Verisign's reply to even modest success in the new gTLD marketplace is any indication, it must be very hard to say goodbye. We understand why they're worried... The quality of newly registered .COM names is dropping and has been for years. And there is nothing Verisign can do about it. So welcome to the fire sale.

< <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20141218_the_empire_strikes_back_new_verisign_hums_a_familiar_tune/> http://www.circleid.com/posts/20141218_the_empire_strikes_back_new_verisign_hums_a_familiar_tune/>

 

**********************

- DNS SECURITY

**********************

New from Verisign Labs: What?s in your attack surface?

Recently, Verisign Labs researcher Eric Osterweil and Verisign CSO Danny McPherson, along with Lixia Zhang, a professor of computer science at UCLA, received the Best Paper Award at this year?s IEEE Workshop on Secure Network Protocols (NPSec ?14) for their paper, ?The Shape and Size of Threats: Defining a Networked System's Attack Surface.? Below is a guest post from one of the authors, Eric Osterweil, principal researcher for Verisign Labs, describing the genesis of the research and future plans.

< <http://blogs.verisigninc.com/blog/entry/new_from_verisign_labs_what> http://blogs.verisigninc.com/blog/entry/new_from_verisign_labs_what>

 

Hackers are going after the Internet?s very infrastructure. Here?s why that matters.

The Los Angeles-based nonprofit group that acts as something of the air traffic-controller of the global Internet has announced that it was the victim of a hacking attack last month. That's raising concerns because, while little-known to most Internet users, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers -- better known as ICANN -- quietly helps to keep the Internet up and running.

< <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/12/19/hackers-are-going-after-the-internets-very-infrastructure-heres-why-that-matters/> http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/12/19/hackers-are-going-after-the-internets-very-infrastructure-heres-why-that-matters/>

 

New from Verisign Labs: What?s in your attack surface?

Recently, Verisign Labs researcher Eric Osterweil and Verisign CSO Danny McPherson, along with Lixia Zhang, a professor of computer science at UCLA, received the Best Paper Award at this year?s IEEE Workshop on Secure Network Protocols (NPSec ?14) for their paper, ?The Shape and Size of Threats: Defining a Networked System's Attack Surface.? Below is a guest post from one of the authors, Eric Osterweil, principal researcher for Verisign Labs, describing the genesis of the research and future plans.

< <http://blogs.verisigninc.com/blog/entry/new_from_verisign_labs_what> http://blogs.verisigninc.com/blog/entry/new_from_verisign_labs_what>

 

VeriSign Warns of DNS Security Risks

Danny McPherson, the chief security officer of VeriSign, is worried about the future security of the Domain Name System (DNS), which his company helps to keep stable and secure. Among the biggest risks is the continued stability of DNS in an era where domain name collisions are growing.

< <http://www.eweek.com/security/verisign-warns-of-dns-security-risks.html> http://www.eweek.com/security/verisign-warns-of-dns-security-risks.html>

 

**********************

- DOMAIN DISPUTES & SEIZURES

**********************

Union Bank loses cases against gripe websites

Union Bank has lost three domain name arbitration cases involving an upset former customer.

< <http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/18/union-bank-loses-cases-against-gripe-websites/> http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/18/union-bank-loses-cases-against-gripe-websites/>

 

**********************

- IPv4/IPv6

**********************

When IoT meets IPv6

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a promising and rapidly developing technology area. Many global IT companies have announced their IoT business plans. IoT has become a powerful force affecting the wide variety of industries, and has been applied in smart home, manufacturing, and transportation.

< <http://blog.apnic.net/2014/12/18/when-iot-meets-ipv6/> http://blog.apnic.net/2014/12/18/when-iot-meets-ipv6/>

 

**********************

- MISCELLANEOUS

**********************

Movie industry's evil plan to destroy the internet is going precisely nowhere: Yes, it would damage the DNS; no, it's not going to happen

As well as finding out that Jennifer Lawrence earns less than her male counterparts, Hollywood studio execs are self-important a-holes and Sony Pictures has a password policy that a baby could break ... it turns out movie giants are also seeking to DESTROY THE INTERNET with a ten-page legal memo.

< <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/19/movie_industrys_evil_plan_to_destroy_the_internet_is_going_precisely_nowhere/> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/19/movie_industrys_evil_plan_to_destroy_the_internet_is_going_precisely_nowhere/>

 

Rightside Partners with BaseKit to Bring Website Builder to Domain Registrars

Website building platform BaseKit announced last week that it has partnered with domain name services provider Rightside Group to provide its website building tool to its domain registrars.

< <http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/rightside-partners-basekit-bring-website-builder-domain-registrars> http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/rightside-partners-basekit-bring-website-builder-domain-registrars>

 

Confirming APNIC 40 dates

As announced in September, APNIC 40 will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, but the dates are now confirmed: 3-10 September 2015.

< <http://blog.apnic.net/2014/12/19/confirming-apnic-40-dates/> http://blog.apnic.net/2014/12/19/confirming-apnic-40-dates/>

 

**********************

- DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET

**********************

Sedo Announces the Top 10 Highest Domain Name Sales in 2014 - The World?s Largest Marketplace Continues to Thrive in 2014

Sedo, the world?s largest domain marketplace and monetization provider has announced its 2014 list of the highest-valued public domain sales of the year.

< <https://sedo.com/us/news/3546/Sedo-Announces-the-Top-10-Highest-Domain-Name-Sales-in-2014-/> https://sedo.com/us/news/3546/Sedo-Announces-the-Top-10-Highest-Domain-Name-Sales-in-2014-/>

 

Cuba domain names take off after yesterday?s announcement

... Immediately, people went to domain name registrars to register Cuban domain names. According to Verisign?s DomainView tool, over 1,500 domains containing ?cuba? were registered yesterday in .com and .net. Compare that to fewer than 100 that are registered on a typical day.

< <http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/18/cuba-domain-names-take-off-after-yesterdays-announcement/> http://domainnamewire.com/2014/12/18/cuba-domain-names-take-off-after-yesterdays-announcement/>

 

**********************

INTERNET USE

**********************

iPads, tablets, smartphones disrupt good sleep, study finds

Basking in the blue glow of iPads, smartphones and other electronic devices before bedtime could be messing up our sleep patterns more profoundly than we realize, and even affecting our long-term health, according to a new study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

< <http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/12/22/ipads-tablets-smartphones-disrupt-good-sleep-study-finds/> http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/12/22/ipads-tablets-smartphones-disrupt-good-sleep-study-finds/>

 

Open the Book, Put Down the Tablet at Bedtime: New Study Examines Devices? Impact on the Body?s Circadian Clock

Reading on electronic devices before bedtime can disrupt the body?s circadian clock, making it harder to fall asleep and become alert in the morning, according to a study from Brigham and Women?s Hospital in Boston.

< <http://www.wsj.com/articles/open-the-book-close-the-e-reader-at-bedtime-1419272534> http://www.wsj.com/articles/open-the-book-close-the-e-reader-at-bedtime-1419272534>

 

**********************

PRIVACY & SURVEILLANCE

**********************

The Future of Privacy

The terms of citizenship and social life are rapidly changing in the digital age. No issue highlights this any better than privacy, always a fluid and context-situated concept and more so now as the boundary between being private and being public is shifting. ?We have seen the emergence of publicly as the default modality, with privacy declining,? wrote Stowe Boyd, the lead researcher for GigaOm Research in his response in this study. ?In order to ?exist? online, you have to publish things to be shared, and that has to be done in open, public spaces.? If not, people have a lesser chance to enrich friendships, find or grow communities, learn new things, and act as economic agents online.

< <http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/12/18/future-of-privacy/> http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/12/18/future-of-privacy/>

 

**************************

BRAND PROTECTION & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

**************************

We need to develop a balance between protecting intellectual property and allowing free speech by Noah Feldman

Was 2014 the year of the hacker? Or 2013? Or maybe 2011? The answer, of course, is that they all were, and that there are going to be lots more coming. But events in 2014 have helped frame a profound question that we're going to have to answer about the right balance among property, privacy and free speech - and a glance through the year's prominent hacks sheds some light on how we should answer it.

< <http://www.theage.com.au/comment/we-need-to-develop-a-balance-between-protecting-intellectual-property-and-allowing-free-speech-20141218-129l7c.html> http://www.theage.com.au/comment/we-need-to-develop-a-balance-between-protecting-intellectual-property-and-allowing-free-speech-20141218-129l7c.html>

 

**********************

MISCELLANEOUS

**********************

Apple 'failing to protect Chinese factory workers'

Poor treatment of workers in Chinese factories which make Apple products has been discovered by an undercover BBC Panorama investigation.

< <http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30532463> http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30532463>

 

 

 

----------------------------

David Goldstein

 email:  <mailto:david at goldsteinreport.com> david at goldsteinreport.com

 web:    <http://goldsteinreport.com/> http://goldsteinreport.com /  <http://davidgoldstein.tel/> http://davidgoldstein.tel/
 phone:  <tel:%2B61%20418%20228%20605> +61 418 228 605 ? mobile /  <tel:%2B61%202%209663%203430> +61 2 9663 3430 - office/home

"Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.cynosure.com.au/mailman/private/dns/attachments/20141224/6229bfe3/attachment-0001.html>