Russia Will Build A Separate Internet Directory

The Russian government will build an “independent internet” for use by itself, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, the so-called BRICS nations, “in the event of global internet malfunctions,” the Russian news site RT has reported. 

More precisely, Moscow intends to create an alternative to the global Domain Name System, or DNS, the directory that helps the browser on your computer or smartphone connect to the website server or other computers that you’re trying to reach. 

The Russians cited national security concerns, but the real reason may have more to do with Moscow’s own plans for offensive cyber operations.

According to RT, the Russian Security Council discussed the idea during its October meeting, saying that “the increased capabilities of western nations to conduct offensive operations in the informational space as well as the increased readiness to exercise these capabilities pose a serious threat to Russia’s security.” Russian President Vladimir Putin has set a date of August 1, 2018, to complete the alternative DNS.

Russia, along with China, has long pushed for national governments to assert more control over the DNS and net governance in general, via the UN International Telecommunication Union, or ITU. Then, as now, the Russian and Chinese arguments were rooted in national security. 

But were DNS to be turned over to the ITU, dictatorships would be able to much better monitor dissidents, stifle dissent, and control the information environment in their countries. For example, Western tech companies could be forced to keep data and servers physically within those countries, and thus become entangled in vast citizen-monitoring programs.

In 2014, the US cleverly announced it would give control of the DNS database to a non-governmental international body of stakeholders, a process to be run by the California-based Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN.
“Now, when China stands up and says, ‘We want a seat at the table of internet governance,’ the US can say, ‘No. The internet should be stateless.’ They’re in a much stronger position to make that argument today than they were before,” Matthew Prince, co-founder of the company Cloudflare, told Defense One at the time.

In a statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov framed Russia’s desire for an alternative DNS as essential to “protecting it from possible external influence.”

“We all know who the chief administrator of the global internet is. And due to its volatility, we have to think about how to ensure our national security,” Peskov said. Russia may have another reason to build its own alternative to DNS: deterrence by denial. If you’ve got a backup internet running that connects you to key nation-state trading partners, you can hack your opponent at less risk of disrupting your own state.

“There is a deep irony in Russia citing the increased capabilities of Western nations doing attacks in the informational space. It is like the fake social media account of the pot calling the kettle fake,” said technologist Peter Singer.

The move follows Russia’s 2016 launch of its own segregated military internet for top-secret communication, called the Closed Data Transfer Segment, modeled slightly after the US Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System, or JWICS. “Russia has been increasing spending on both IT software and hardware for its military, creating domestic microchips, smart phones, notebooks and now closed Internet for the Armed Forces. These efforts were facilitated by the government and Ministry of Defense eager to wean themselves off the dependence on high-tech imports,” said Sam Bendett, an associate research analyst with the Center for Naval Analyses’ Russia Studies Program and a fellow in Russia Studies at the American Foreign Policy Council.

DefenseOne

You Might Also Read: 

Public-Private Partnerships in the Cyber Domain:

Russia Provides New Internet Connection to N.Korea:

The Difference Between Cyberspace & The Internet:

 

« Undersea Telecoms Cables Are Interception Targets
96 Hours To Pay Up Or Spider Ransomware Deletes Your Files »

ManageEngine
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Check Point

Directory of Suppliers

Resecurity

Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

Practice Labs

Practice Labs

Practice Labs is an IT competency hub, where live-lab environments give access to real equipment for hands-on practice of essential cybersecurity skills.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

Tines

Tines

The Tines security automation platform helps security teams automate manual tasks, making them more effective and efficient.

Ground Labs

Ground Labs

Ground Labs is a security software company dedicated to making sensitive data discovery products that help organisations prevent sensitive data loss.

Deutsche Cyber-Sicherheitsorganisation (DCSO)

Deutsche Cyber-Sicherheitsorganisation (DCSO)

DCSO was founded in 2015 with the aim of counteracting the threats posed by globally organized cybercrime and state-controlled industrial espionage.

Lanner Electronics

Lanner Electronics

Lanner Electronics is a leading hardware provider for advanced network appliances and industrial automation solutions including cyber security.

Recorded Future

Recorded Future

Recorded Future arms security teams with threat intelligence powered by patented machine learning to lower risk.

ecsec

ecsec

ecsec is a specialized vendor of security solutions including information security management, smart card technology, identity management, cloud computing and electronic signature technology.

GovCERT Austria

GovCERT Austria

GovCERT Austria is the Austrian Government Computer Emergency Response Team. Its constituency consists of Austria's public administration.

ACPL Systems

ACPL Systems

We offer leading-edge technology solutions, expert professional and managed services and proven methodologies to ensure your data is protected and business risks are reduced.

Rippleshot

Rippleshot

Rippleshot is a fraud analytics firm that detects mass card compromises faster, allowing issuers to execute more proactive fraud detection strategies.

PixelPlex

PixelPlex

PixelPlex is a blockchain and custom software development company with offices and developers in New York, Geneva, and Seoul.

Phakamo Tech

Phakamo Tech

Phakamo Tech offers a full set of governance, risk, compliance, cybersecurity and Microsoft Cloud services that include consulting, planning, implementation and cyber incident response.

International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI)

International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI)

International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators provides services and information about financial fraud, fraud investigation and fraud prevention.

Obrela Security Industries

Obrela Security Industries

Obrela provides security analytics and risk management services to identify, analyze, predict and prevent highly sophisticated security threats in real time.

Ncontracts

Ncontracts

Our mission at Ncontracts is to continually improve our clients’ ability to manage risk and compliance.

Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF)

Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF)

FCRF is a Non-Profit NGO specializing in Research in Cyber Security, Digital Crime, Fraud Risk Management, Cyber Laws and Cyber Forensics.

Hicomply

Hicomply

Hicomply simplifies compliance management with smart, user-friendly tools, helping you scale your processes and stay in control - no matter how complex.

Business Communications Inc (BCI)

Business Communications Inc (BCI)

BCI is a leading technology company known for its exceptional team of experienced engineers with a focus on providing top-notch technology and security products and services.