CIRA working with international partners to counter Conficker C

    OTTAWA, March 24 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Internet Registration
Authority, the non-profit organization responsible for operating the dot-ca
Internet domain, today announced it is taking prudent steps to counter
possible misuse of the dot-ca domain by the Conficker C worm.
    Conficker C is the latest variant of a malicious Internet software
program that acts in two stages. The first stage has infected potentially
millions of computers around the world and, beginning April 1, is expected to
try to communicate with command codes placed on web sites by the worm's
authors.
    In an effort to shield their activities from Internet security
authorities, Conficker C's authors have programmed their worm to randomly
generate domain names from 110 country-code domains around the world,
including dot-ca. CIRA has put in place a plan to counter this potential
misuse of the dot-ca registry and to maintain its integrity as one of the most
secure and robust domains in the world.
    "A dot-ca domain name is valued and trusted as the best way for
individuals, businesses and other organizations in Canada to connect with
people, build their brand, reach markets and service customers," said Byron
Holland, president and CEO of CIRA. "In consultation with our international
peers and Internet security authorities, we are taking prudent steps to
counter attempts to abuse this trust."
    CIRA's efforts include pre-emptively registering and isolating previously
unregistered dot-ca domain names expected to be generated over the next 12
months by Conficker C. This move, which covers the vast majority of affected
names during that period, will prevent registration of those domains by
undesirable actors. In the small number of cases where the domain name has
already been registered, CIRA will actively investigate and monitor activities
at those domains and take appropriate action if suspicious activity is
detected. For security reasons, CIRA was not willing to provide further
details.

    About CIRA

    The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the not-for-profit,
member-driven organization that manages Canada's dot-ca domain name registry,
develops and implements policies that support Canada's Internet community, and
represents the dot-ca registry internationally.

For further information: or to arrange an interview, media may contact:
Leo Valiquette, inmedia Public Relations Inc., [phone] x226, Cell:
[phone], [e-mail]; Francis Moran, inmedia Public
Relations Inc., [phone] x224, Cell: [phone], [e-mail]