Phishing attacks 'could rise' after Icann decision

2009-11-03

A recent decision by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) to allow non-Latin characters in web addresses could lead to a rise in phishing attacks, according to a report.

Peter Wood, a member of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) conference committee, has pointed out that some alphabets contain characters that, when displayed in particular fonts, are very difficult to differentiate from Latin characters, V3.co.uk reported.

He told the website that malware writers could look to use new domain rules to register addresses with new characters that are similar to Latin letters.

"Just when we think we have got people aware about the dangers of phishing and not clicking on links in emails, it now becomes even more important," Mr Wood commented.

Icann recently announced the first internet addresses containing non-Latin characters from start to finish will soon be online after the organisation's board approved the new Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) Fast Track Process.

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