Non-Latin domain characters 'may pose security risks'

The introduction of non-Latin characters in domain names could damage IT security if web users are not aware of the risks, it has been suggested.

According to IT governance organisation ISACA, the move by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to open up the market could confuse Western internet users and put them at risk.

Speaking to IT PRO, Peter Wood, a member of the ISACA Conference Committee, warned that fraudsters could replace Latin letters in conventional web addresses with similar-looking non-Latin ones, directing consumers to fake websites.

He added: "My immediate thought was that if they were going to allow multiple languages and character sets, you'd end up with the possibility of spammers being able to fool users in a whole new wave of phishing and spoof attacks.

"Historically there have been scams like putting instead of vvw instead of www, which to people looking quickly looks normal," he explained.

Urging web user vigilance, Mr Wood said the latest domain news would potentially take things "a whole notch further".

Phil Kingsland, director of communications at Nominet UK, recently claimed the introduction of non-Latin languages would open the internet up to millions of new users.

Written by Debra Hastings-Henry