Week 7: Security and Law Flashcards
What are examples of DNS providers?
Google DNS and OpenDNS are examples. DNS is an open standard, so anyone can create their own DNS if it follows interoperability guidelines.
What role does DNS play in converting URLs to IP addresses?
DNS resolves user-friendly web addresses to IP addresses. If the local DNS cannot find an IP address, it queries higher-level DNS servers in a hierarchical system.
How are domains registered on the Internet?
Organizations like ISOC, ICANN, and RIRs govern domain registration. They ensure compliance with standards and manage domain name assignments.
Can trademarks affect domain registration?
Trademark conflicts arise when registering domains like “cocacola.com.” Debates center on whether domain use is valid, such as for criticism versus trademark infringement.
What controversies exist with top-level domains?
ICANN has allowed domains like .bible but refused others like .Islam, reflecting geopolitical influences on Internet governance.
How does artificial scarcity affect domain prices?
Restricting the availability of top-level domains increases their price, even though their actual creation costs are negligible.
What security issues exist with DNS?
DNS lacks built-in security, making users vulnerable to attacks like pharming, where malicious sites mimic legitimate ones to steal data.
What is DNSSEC?
DNSSEC adds security to DNS by verifying DNS data authenticity, but its slow adoption leaves many systems still vulnerable.
What are Certificate Authorities (CAs)?
CAs are trusted entities that verify website ownership. They issue security certificates to confirm that a website is legitimate.
What role do CAs play in HTTPS?
CAs use public key encryption to verify sites. Messages encrypted with a private key can be decrypted with the corresponding public key, ensuring authenticity.
What vulnerabilities exist with CAs?
CAs can be compromised, as seen in the DigiNotar hack, where stolen private keys were used to sign fake certificates.
What is the distinction between criminal and civil law in the UK?
Criminal law deals with crimes against society, while civil law governs disputes between individuals or organizations.
Compare key features of criminal and civil law
cr Aim: Punish crimes against society.
ci Aim: Regulate relationships between parties.
cr Commencement: Initiated by the state (Police, CPS).
ci Commencement: Individuals or organizations sue others.
cr Burden of Proof: Beyond a reasonable doubt.
ci Burden of Proof: Balance of probabilities.
cr Venue: Magistrates’ or Crown Court.
ci Venue: County or High Court.
cr Outcome: Conviction or acquittal.
ci Outcome: Liability determination.
cr Remedy: State-imposed punishment.
ci Remedy: Damages or injunctions.
