Internet security flaw fixed
Published July 9th, 2008
Computer experts have released software to tackle a security glitch in the internet’s addressing system.
The flaw, discovered by accident, would allow criminals to redirect users to fake webpages, even if they typed the correct address into a browser.
Internet giants such as Microsoft are now distributing the security patch.
Security expert Dan Kaminsky said that the case was unprecedented, but added: “People should be concerned but they should not be panicking.”
“We have bought you as much time as possible to test and apply the patch,” he said. “Something of this scale has not happened before.”
Mr Kaminsky discovered the error in the workings of the Domain Name System (DNS) about six months ago.
DNS is used to convert web addresses written in words - such as www.bbc.com - into the numerical sequences used by computers to route internet traffic around the world.
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