ICANN Tables Current Agenda

Domain slamming and ccTLDs are off the table. Stopping e-mail viruses and Web security are on the agenda. Like many other organizations, ICANN says its priorities changed September 11th.

by Jim Wagner of internetnews.com [September 28, 2001]

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is tabling many of its current projects to work on issues that affect the Internet's security and stability, officials said this week.

That means current hot topics like domain slamming, country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) and at-large membership will be put on hold at the upcoming November ICANN meeting in Marina del Ray, CA.

Delayed importance
Instead, attendees will focus on ways to reassess potential threats under the purview of ICANN's charter and how to improve their readiness. Officials said this wasn't just an American problem, but "answers to these questions are urgent and of worldwide importance."

Stuart Lynn, ICANN president, said the events on Sept. 11 called for all organizations to rethink their policies.

"The Internet is global in reach, as are the threats of terrorism. The events of September 11 offered a stark and tragic reminder of the incalculable importance of a reliable and secure naming and addressing system to support emergency response, personal and other communications, and information sharing. E-mail, instant messaging, and the Web, for example, all played essential roles."

ICANN officials weren't sure whether to continue with their quarterly meeting in the first place, since the majority of attendees would be coming in via commercial airlines. A post to the organization's Web site asked for recommendations and received overwhelming support for a modified meeting, Lynn said.

He also acknowledged the impatience many Internet advocates will express when they find out that important issues are tabled for the time being to focus on security and stability.

"The effects of such delays have to be measured against the importance of ensuring the stability and security of the Internet's naming and addressing systems,'' Lynn said. "I ask for patience on the part of the ICANN community so that we can concentrate on the issue at hand."

ICANN officials did not say which issues would be brought forward for discussion, but instead will ask attendees which items they think is relevant for debate, and what actions they can take in the event of another terrorist attack.

Net maladies
Richard Pethia, director of Carnegie Mellon University's CERT Center, said that the current rash of Internet worms, like the Code Red and Nimda, underscore the vulnerabilities of the Internet.

"Problems such as the Nimda worm will occur again, and attack technology will evolve to support attacks that are even more virulent and damaging," Pethia said. "Our current solutions are not keeping pace with the increased strength and speed of attacks; our information infrastructures are at risk. Solutions are not simple, but must be pursued aggressively to allow us to keep our information infrastructures operating at acceptable levels of risk."

While the examples he was talking about were script viruses, Pethia said the Internet community as a whole, from the governments and organizations down to the individual would need to re-evaluate and educate themselves on security issues.

"Additional government support for research, development, and education in computer and network security would have a positive effect on the overall security of the Internet," he concluded.

— End