News
Bloxx Backs "Future Proofing" of Internet
June 2008 by Marc Jacob
Bloxx, the enterprise web filtering specialist, welcomed the
recommendations announced by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to extend the currently available top level domains (IDN ccTLDs)[1]. The move would, along with the longer IP addresses available under IPv6, protect the Internet for all perceived domain name and world population growth rates.
ICANN has set up the IDNC WG to introduce, in a timely manner and in a
manner that ensures the continued security and stability of the
Internet, a limited number of non-contentious IDN ccTLDs, associated
with the ISO 3166-1 two-letter codes (both the official code list of ISO
3166-1 and the list of reserved ISO 3166-1 code elements). As early as
January next year, anyone can then apply for one of these new,
inexhaustible domain names made available through opening up top level
domain possibilities (rather than the currently acceptable .uk, .fr, .de
etc).
In parallel to this, the widespread adoption of IPv6 lengthens the
available IP addresses, which at the current rate would expire in
2010[2]. With IPv4, there were 4.2 billion possible IP addresses, moving
to IPv6 has increased this to 340 trillion, trillion, trillion.
"The recommendations from ICANN will future proof the Internet so that
it can be used and enjoyed for many generations to come," says Bloxx
Managing Director, Eamonn Doyle. "However, we predict a land grab for
these additional top level domains which will see a dramatic increase in
the number of registered domains and URLs. This will be a significant
challenge for first and second-generation web filtering suppliers whose
products depend on keeping a URL database up-to-date."
"The problem with first and second generation web filters is with the
growth and turnover of the web, as soon as a URL database or "blacklist"
is updated, it is out of date - these new recommendations mean this
problem has never been more relevant," explains Doyle. "Third-generation
filters, such as Bloxx Tru-View Technology, analyse and categorise sites
on the fly and make an informed decision as to what risks are associated
with accessing them, and are now clearly the only viable way to manage
user access to the web."
About Bloxx Tru-View Technology
Bloxx Tru-View Technology uses internationally patent pending technology
to analyse and block web sites quicker and more accurately than other
web filters, which use manual URL classification and keyword scoring
alone.
Using intelligent identification and analysis, Tru-View Technology
provides instant classification of web content as soon as it is
accessed, even if the content has not been seen by anyone before.
Bloxx Tru-View Technology helps organisations proactively manage users’
access to web content which might lower productivity, expose the
organisation to risk and liability or pose a network security threat.
An estimated 1 million + users already benefit from enhanced security
and performance with low administration and no cost per user charges.
Additional protection is provided via anti-virus, anti-spyware and
anti-phishing functionality.
[1] The full ICANN recommendations can be found at:
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-26jun08-en.htm
[2] Hain, Tony. IPv4 Address Pool, quarterly generated
