DNS - Comcast Focuses on Pushing Widespread Adoption of DNS Security

The widespread adoption of DNS Security extensions marks a strong move toward more stable Internet security, experts say. The technology allows Web sites to secure their domain information so that Internet Service Providers can validate and ensure they aren’t easily vulnerable to hackers and other attacks.

According to Chris Griffiths, Manager, DNS Engineering, Comcast has been testing and advocating for the widespread adoption of this technology, also known as DNSSEC. Such a move would be beneficial for all legitimate Internet users as DNS Security extensions prevent hackers from injecting false information – otherwise known as DNS poising – that can re-direct a user to a fake or nefarious site. 

This protection is essential as the necessary process to secure domains as well as validate them is very complex. As a result, Comcast (News - Alert) is focusing an abundance of time and energy over the next year to make sure everything works.

The company plans to implement DNSSEC for the websites managed by Comcast, including comcast.com, comcast.net and xfinity.com, by the first quarter of 2011, if not sooner. Comcast will then set out to implement DNSSEC validation for all customers by the end of 2011. One message it aims to deliver to customers is the fact they will need to do nothing other than enjoy enhanced security.

“If you don’t want to wait until 2011, you can participate in our DNSSEC customer trial, which starts today,” said Griffiths. “Opt-in by changing your DNS server IP addresses to 75.75.75.75 and 75.75.76.76 (we’ll be adding IPv6 addresses soon). The servers supporting this are deployed nationally in the same locations as our other DNS servers that millions of customers use everyday.”

Comcast is known as the nation’s largest ISP, which puts significant pressure on the company to ensure they have the best DNS security, as well as the most secure platform available.

Said Griffiths: “We hope that our efforts in DNSSEC will encourage others to adopt similar measures to strengthen Internet security.”

Earlier this month, Comcast was in the news as sports programming could wind up as the center of the battle between the Comcast and NBC Universal (News - Alert) as smaller cable companies fear Comcast will jack up its fees for its sports channels.

In other Comcast news, the company announced it has reached a deal to acquire New Global Telecom, a Golden, Colo.-based VoIP services provider. The acquisition is yet another competitive swipe at telecom companies in an effort by a cable company to try to capture a piece of the SMB and enterprise business market.