Bloxx Backs “Future Proofing” of Internet

However, Security Expert Warns That Land Grab for New Domains Will Make It Impossible For Conventional Web Filters to Keep Up With Predicted Growth of the Web

Bloxx, the enterprise web filtering specialist, today 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web filters is with the growth and turnover of the web, as soon as a URL database or “blacklist” is updated, it is out of date – these new recommendations mean this problem has never been more relevant,” explains Doyle.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

About Bloxx
Headquartered in the UK with sales offices in Holland, the USA and Australia, Bloxx offers appliance-based web filtering for medium and large organisations in both the business and public sectors. Leading UK investment groups such as Braveheart Investment Group Plc and Archangel Investments Ltd. have invested in Bloxx. For more information please visit: www.bloxx.com.

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