Soon DNS to protect users from malware

The government will soon launch a public domain name system (DNS) server that could protect users from any malware or phishing with enhanced security features as well as faster response time, a senior official of the ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) told ET.

“We are expecting it to be ready in next three months, and we will be doing a proof of concept (PoC) starting next week,” the official said, adding that the new system would be completely secure and always available with faster response.

DNS is a system that translates domain names to Internet Protocol or IP addresses that allows browsers to load websites sought.

“This (DNS) is an important tool that requires to be fool-proof, and has a major role in browsing the Internet,” he said.

The Narendra Modi government is eyeing a new and robust platform in the wake of critical digital services being delivered online requiring enhanced security to discourage cyber-attacks and a quicker site loading time.

If a user inadvertently accesses a malicious or phishing site, the new public system would immediately open up a page or popup to alert the user of such potential threat so that the suspicious resource could be avoided, the official who is aware of the initiative, said.

The new DNS will be placed across the country to minimise outage and would be available round the clock. Users can simply use it by typing the IP number into the Internet browser. The Centre has also launched a new email platform for all government employees including those in states and Union Territories.
The new platform is an upgraded version with enhanced in-built security features compared to the earlier created by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and has a capability to host as many as 5 million users that can be scaled up further if needed.

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