ICANN Requested to Suspend Chinese Domain Name Registrar

Knujon, an anti-spam service provider, has released a report highlighting how some of the registrars within the US and other countries have repeatedly failed to satisfy certain WHOIS-related obligations under the ICANN's (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers') RAA (Registrar Accreditation Agreement).

In its new report, Knujon has specifically stressed that companies and people registering new domains should provide correct contact information. Based on that, Knujon is now requesting ICANN to block Xinnet Bei Gong Da Software, an apparently the worst offender.

Further, according to Knujon, none of WHOIS records in a specimen group of 11,000 spam Websites registered their domains through Xinnet and which Knujon reported to ICANN's WHOIS Data Problem Report System, were rectified over the six months which end of May 2008. Despite that, the Chinese registrar is still registering about 100 spam sites a day.

Knujon's analysis indicated that three companies that were the worst offenders, ranked as per their number of registered domain names that were promoted through spam, and the number of spam mails promoting those sites, were found to be Chinese. However, among the top 10 offenders, the major US registrars like Moniker and eNom Inc., in Pompano Beach, Fla., were also included.

According to Knujon, in many instances, Xinnet has not reviewed any WHOIS record data, while spam sites continue to run with many advertising "seal abuse" through bogus seal postings imitating VeriSign, BBB, and other reliable industry seals. While few of the Websites provided the authentic-looking contact information, their phone numbers and e-mail addresses were fake.

The domain names of these Websites are on lease given by registrar and the registrars are ICANN accredited. During the process of registration, registrants leasing the domain names need to provide their identification details and contact information to the huge Internet database called WHOIS.

But, according to Web security experts, spammers and other cyber criminals, who develop Websites to steal identities, propagate malware or sell fake goods, rarely submit accurate WHOIS information and some do not provide at all.

Moreover, a large number of domain names registered are entertaining Websites promoted through spam mails that are sent from botnets every year.

Related article: ICANN Suggests Introduction of Banking Domain to Reduce phishing Impact

» SPAMfighter News - 7/8/2008