If you’ve been wondering what all the fuss over DNSSEC is about, Internode’s Mark Newton has published a useful blog to explain its benefits and warn of possible pitfalls.

DNSSEC is an Internet-wide move to more securely authenticate the Domain Name System (DNS), part of the fundamental navigation infrastructure of the Internet. DNS is the globally-deployed system that helps your computer navigate the Internet by translating website addresses into numeric IP addresses that your computer can understand.

In his blog, Mark notes that today, Wednesday, May 5, 2010, is a “flag day” that will see the Internet’s root DNS servers start emitting digital signatures needed to authenticate their responses, as a measure to significantly increase the security of the Domain Name System. However, he warns that some people may have firewalls or home ADSL routers that cannot properly process the response sizes required by these DNSSEC digital signatures.

Based on the principle that forewarned is forearmed, Mark Newton’s blog gives a detailed explanation of how Internet users will benefit from DNSSEC and how they can overcome potential problems. If you want to read Mark’s blog about DNSSEC, it’s at http://blog.internode.on.net/tag/dnssec/

If you’d like to ask Mark Newton any questions arising from his blog, call John Harris on (08) 8431 4000 or email jharris@impress.com.au