[LINK] Google Expands Control of Internet Architecture

Roger Clarke Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au
Sun Dec 20 11:51:39 AEDT 2009


EPIC Alert - December 18, 2009
<http://www.epic.org/alert/epic_alert_1624.html>http://www.epic.org/alert/epic_alert_1624.html

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[4] Google Expands Control of Internet Architecture
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Google announced Google Public DNS on December 8, a new service which
would allow users to use Google's servers as a sort of "phonebook" for
internet addresses, instead of the servers provided by their internet
service provider. The internet phonebook is a system called the Domain
Name System, or DNS. When users access the internet, all requests for
website addresses pass through this system.

For example, when a user types "<http://www.epic.org>www.epic.org" in 
the address bar of
their browser, the computer must send that request to a DNS server,
which will return the IP address that identifies the server hosting the
requested address (e.g. <http://66.39.35.141/)>http://66.39.35.141/). 
By default, most user's
computers are configured to use the DNS servers provided by their
Internet Service Provider. These requests would normally pass through
these servers. Instead, those who have configured their computer to use
Google's new DNS service will send their request to Google's servers.

Google joins at least two other companies offering free DNS
alternatives, although Google is the first of these companies to also
have so many other services in various layers of the internet
architecture. By tradition, DNS is a distributed function, subject to
an open standard-setting process and part of the generally distributed
nature of the internet. A new authentication standard is in the works,
called the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC). Google's
DNS service does not use the new authentication standard, but instead
uses a proprietary security method.

Google Public DNS:
 
<http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/>http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/

Google Public DNS Announcement:
 
<http://www.epic.org/redirect/121609googlednsannounce.html>http://www.epic.org/redirect/121609googlednsannounce.html

DNSSEC Official Site:
      <http://www.dnssec.net/>http://www.dnssec.net/

EPIC: DNSSEC:
      <http://epic.org/privacy/dnssec/>http://epic.org/privacy/dnssec/

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-- 
Roger Clarke                                 http://www.rogerclarke.com/
			            
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University



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