Re: [ga] Most Popular Invalid TLDs Should Be Reserved

[George Kirikos <gkirikos@xxxxxxxxx>]

Just to followup, if one looks at stats for the K-root server, operated by RIPE:

http://k.root-servers.org/statistics/LOCAL/tlds.html

.local is more popular than .org, and .home is more popular than .de, .pl, .it, 
.uk and other large ccTLDs. .lan is more popular than .ca or .jp, and .wpad is 
more popular than .dk.

That's a huge amount of traffic, more than .cm (which doesn't make the top 
lists). The need to take preemptive action is evident.

Sincerely,

George Kirikos
http://www.leap.com/

--- On Thu, 6/18/09, George Kirikos wrote:
> Hi folks,
> 
> Some of the root server operators post public statistics
> for their domain name traffic at the top-level. For example,
> the graph (which can take a bit of time to generate, given
> ICANN's slow servers) for the L-root server's most popular
> TLD queries:
> 
> http://stats.l.root-servers.org/cgi-bin/dsc-grapher.pl?window=604800&plot=qtype_vs_valid_tld&server=L-root
> 
> demonstrates, to no one's surprise, that .com is king.
> What's more interesting, though, especially given the new
> gTLD debate, is to look at the most popular invalid
> (non-existent) TLDs:
> 
> "http://stats.l.root-servers.org/cgi-bin/dsc-grapher.pl?window=604800&plot=qtype_vs_invalid_tld&server=L-root
> 
> This list will vary depending on caching and the
> geographical location of the root server, but for the
> L-root, .local, .belkin, .home, .lan, .invalid .domain,
> .localdomain, .wpad, .corp, .maps, .html, .router, .host,
> .mshome, .htm and so on show popularity in the past week.
> 
> Given what transpired with the wildcarding of .cm
> 
> http://www.circleid.com/posts/nation_of_cameroon_typosquats_com_space/
> 
> and the current lack of a prohibition of wildcarding for
> new gTLDs (despite our own input into the public comment
> periods), it's clear that these TLDs will be in demand by
> those who hope to take advantage of the built-in DNS traffic
> hardcoded into routers, LANs and other private networks, and
> from typos of existing TLDs.
> 
> I recommend that the Security and Stability Advisory
> Committee compile statistics on invalid TLD queries across
> all root servers, and from popular ISP-run DNS servers, in
> order to create a Reserve List. The list of at least the top
> 1000 invalid TLDs should be made public to ensure
> transparency, and be pruned only with the consensus support
> of the community.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> George Kirikos
> http://www.leap.com/
>