At ZONER a.s., where we operate the portals CZECHIA.COM and RegZone.cz, we have long been striving to make the internet a safer and more trustworthy environment. As a leading domain registrar in the Czech Republic, we are well aware of the importance of the quality of the data about domain holders. The accuracy of this data plays a key role in protecting against domain abuse and helps in preventing online fraud.

One of the projects we are following with great interest is the INFERMAL (Inferential Analysis of Maliciously Registered Domains) research, which is sponsored by the ICANN organization. This research provides us with valuable insights into how and why certain domains can be used for phishing, spreading malware, or other malicious activities. At the same time, it shows us the factors that can deter potential attackers from engaging in these activities.

If you are interested in what signals can hint to us that a domain may be abused, or if you want to find out what measures really work for prevention, we recommend studying the conclusions of ICANN in the report Insights and Clarifications on the INFERMAL Study (PDF). The report contains specific recommendations that can be useful not only for us but also for our clients, companies, IT specialists, and network administrators who strive to protect their online environment.

“For us at ZONER, it is crucial to actively contribute to the protection of our clients and the entire internet community,” says Lukáš Ondra, our domain guru. “The INFERMAL project helps us better understand how domains can be abused, and we adjust our internal processes at CZECHIA.COM and RegZone.cz accordingly to minimize risks and ensure safety.”

The accuracy of data is not only important from a security perspective but also in practical situations. We have often encountered cases where entrepreneurs forgot to update their contact information for their domains. I also remember one experienced entrepreneur who was launching a new e-shop. Everything was ready for launch – a new domain, marketing, everything was in place. But one thing slipped his mind – he did not update the contact information for the domain. The email to which important notifications were sent was no longer functional. When the big day came and he needed to migrate the domain, he could not verify his identity. The e-shop was offline for four days because of this!”

The INFERMAL study shows that certain characteristics of domain registrars and administrators can influence how easily their services can be abused by cyber attackers. Therefore, at ZONER, we are constantly striving to improve our systems and processes to ensure the highest quality of data and minimize the risk of domain abuse.

“The quality of data about domain holders is extremely important to us. Not only from the perspective of security and preventing issues but also due to new legislative requirements,” says Lukáš Ondra. “For example, the European directive NIS2 brings new demands for data management that apply to us as a registrar as well as to registries like EURid (for .eu domains). The goal is to prevent registrations in fictitious names and ensure the verification of data upon entry into the system.”

We believe that quality management and verification of data, backed by solid research and in compliance with current legislative requirements, is a key step towards creating a trustworthy and secure internet for everyone.