VeriSign boosts security for .com domains

DNSSec has been enabled on the .com top level domain, preventing certain types of cyber attack

Authentication company VeriSign has improved the security of the .com domain with the addition of DNS Security Extensions (DNSSec).

The security feature, which prevents certain types of cyber attack, allows users to be certain that the site they are visiting is genuine.

Now sites on the .com domain can benefit from additional security. DNSSec has already been enabled on other popular domains such as .net, .gov, and .org.

"By reaching this critical milestone in DNSSec deployment, VeriSign and the internet community have made enormous strides in protecting the integrity of DNS data," said Pat Kane, senior vice president and general manager of naming services at VeriSign.

But the threats against the internet ecosystem - whether targeting the DNS or elsewhere - are unrelenting.

Without DNSSec, it's possible for an attacker to perform an attack known as 'cache poisoning'.

This allows a hacker potentially to direct a user to a malicious site which appears to be their online banking portal, where they may enter their personal details.