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RESEARCH, ANALYSIS & TRENDS

ICANN reports DNS abuse is trending

downward globally

In a recently published report, the Internet cymakers can make informed policy decisions. These
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers efforts are in line with our commitment to ensure that
(ICANN) indicated that the global sum of DNS the Internet is safe, stable and resilient." He added that,
abuse dropped in "absolute terms and "This is the only report of its kind to measure data over
normalized rates" over the last four years, from a four-year period. Most reports track rates of DNS
October 2017 to January 2022. Globally, in abuse over several months. However, despite the
January 2022, less than one percent of domain downward trend depicted in the report, there is still
names were reported to pose potential threats to much to do. The threats against Internet users are real
users. and changing fast."
ICANN defines DNS abuse in five broad categories of
ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and harmful activity: botnets, malware, pharming, phishing,
unified global Internet. To reach another person on the and spam (as it is used to propagate other DNS securi-
Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a ty threats). ICANN's Bylaws and mission do not permit
number – into your computer or other device. That ad- ICANN to regulate the content of websites.
dress must be unique so computers know where to find
each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these The report is the latest result of ICANN's broad-ranging
unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed efforts to assess, monitor and mitigate DNS security
in 1998 as a non-profit public benefit corporation with a threats. For instance, ICANN's Contractual Compliance
community of participants from all over the world. team enforces the contractual obligations set forth in
ICANN's policies and agreements and publishes notic-
ICANN's Office of the Chief Technology Officer pro- es of breach, suspension, termination and non-renewal
vides subject-matter expertise and has developed spe- in relation to the registrar's compliance with DNS abuse
cial projects such as the Domain Name Security Threat obligations. They also regularly audit how registrars,
Information Collection and Reporting (DNSTICR) and the entities that offer domain name registration ser-
the Domain Abuse Activity Reporting System (DAAR) vices, and registries, the entities that manage registra-
to monitor and report potential security threat domains. tions in their top-level domains, are fulfilling their con-
DAAR produces monthly reports that demonstrate con- tractual obligations related to DNS abuse.
centrations of security threat domain names via visuals
and aggregated statistics. To learn more about DNS abuse and what ICANN is
doing to help understand and mitigate it, visit the pro-
ICANN President and CEO Göran Marby commenting gram webpage at icann.org. ◊
on the recent publication of the report, stated, "Part of
our responsibility as a neutral technical operator of the By MediaBUZZ
Internet is to actively share facts and data so that poli-

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