What is it about?
This work explores how blockchain technology can be used to improve the security and trustworthiness of the internet. It focuses on two key internet infrastructures: the Domain Name System (DNS) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). DNS translates human-readable domain names into computer-readable IP addresses, while PKI uses digital certificates to verify the identity of websites. Traditional DNS and PKI systems are centralized, making them vulnerable to attacks and censorship. Blockchain-based DNS systems can make it harder for hackers to redirect users to fake websites, while blockchain-based PKI can make digital certificates more difficult to forge. We analyse existing blockchain-based DNS and PKI projects, including Namecoin, Blockstack, and Emercoin. We also discuss the potential benefits and challenges of using blockchain for these applications.
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Why is it important?
● Security: Centralized DNS and PKI systems are susceptible to attacks that can disrupt internet access, steal data, or spread malware. Blockchain can help mitigate these risks by decentralizing these systems. ● Trust: Current PKI relies on Certificate Authorities (CAs), which can be compromised or pressured to issue fraudulent certificates. Blockchain offers a more trustworthy alternative by eliminating the need for a central authority. ● Censorship Resistance: Governments or other powerful entities can censor websites by manipulating DNS records. Decentralized DNS makes it much harder to censor content, as there is no single point of control. ● Privacy: Blockchain-based identity management systems can give users more control over their personal data, potentially reducing the risk of data breaches and identity theft.
Perspectives
- Practical Implementation: It provides insights into the practical implementation of blockchain-based DNS and PKI, including the challenges and feasibility of such systems in real-world scenarios. - Future Research Directions: The discussion on future work and potential enhancements in blockchain technology for DNS and PKI systems opens avenues for further academic and industry research. We highlight that blockchain is not a silver bullet for all internet security issues. Some challenges need to be addressed: ● Scalability: Blockchain systems can struggle to handle large numbers of transactions. Solutions like the Lightning Network and Plasma are being developed to improve scalability, but more work is needed. ● User Adoption: For blockchain-based DNS and PKI to become mainstream, users need to adopt new tools and technologies, which can be a slow process. ● Complexity: Blockchain technology can be complex to understand and implement, potentially limiting its adoption among developers and organizations.
Dr. Enis Karaarslan
Mugla Sitki Kocman Universitesi
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Blockchain Based DNS and PKI Solutions, IEEE Communications Standards Magazine, September 2018, Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE),
DOI: 10.1109/mcomstd.2018.1800023.
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