Latest news with #InternetSociety
Korea Herald
10-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
What Holds the Internet Together and Why It's Now at Risk
A new report from ICANN and the Internet Society details how the Internet Governance Forum has supported a stable and secure Internet—and why that model is now under strain. PRAGUE, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As global discussions intensify around the future of Internet governance, two of the Internet's long-standing technical institutions—the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Society (ISOC)—are urging renewed focus on what has kept the Internet open and operational for more than two decades: collaborative coordination across borders and sectors. Released today, the joint report Footprints of 20 Years of the Internet Governance Forum illustrates how cooperation among governments, engineers, civil society, and businesses has helped maintain a single, secure, and globally accessible Internet. The report draws from a range of technical, policy, and infrastructure outcomes that have emerged through the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and its broader network. "The Internet didn't stay unified by chance. Its resilience is the result of people and institutions working across borders and sectors," said Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN President and CEO. "This report underscores that the Internet's success is not accidental; it's coordinated. If we value a single, secure, and interoperable Internet, then we must recommit to the model that made it possible." "For twenty years, the IGF has shown that multistakeholder governance delivers," said Sally Wentworth, President and CEO of the Internet Society. "Its footprint spans infrastructure, security, access, and policy—often in places where conventional governance falls short. But the gains we've made are only as strong as our commitment to keep investing in them." Key Findings A Pivotal Moment The report is being launched ahead of the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), a milestone that is expected to influence how global digital cooperation evolves in the coming decade. Against this backdrop, ICANN and ISOC are calling for renewed attention to the institutions and frameworks that have supported a unified, secure, and open Internet. Rather than offering abstract conclusions, the report is structured around practical and globally sourced examples. It aims to inform current debates by showing what has worked and what could be at risk if support for distributed, collaborative governance falters. Download the full report. About ICANN ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world. For more information, please visit: About the Internet Society Founded in 1992 by Internet pioneers, the Internet Society is a global non-profit organization working to ensure the Internet is for everyone. Through its community of members, special interest groups, and 130+ chapters around the world, the organization defends and promotes Internet policies, standards, and protocols that keep the Internet open, globally connected, and secure. For more information, please visit:
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What Holds the Internet Together and Why It's Now at Risk
A new report from ICANN and the Internet Society details how the Internet Governance Forum has supported a stable and secure Internet—and why that model is now under strain. PRAGUE, June 10, 2025 /CNW/ -- As global discussions intensify around the future of Internet governance, two of the Internet's long-standing technical institutions—the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Society (ISOC)—are urging renewed focus on what has kept the Internet open and operational for more than two decades: collaborative coordination across borders and sectors. Released today, the joint report Footprints of 20 Years of the Internet Governance Forum illustrates how cooperation among governments, engineers, civil society, and businesses has helped maintain a single, secure, and globally accessible Internet. The report draws from a range of technical, policy, and infrastructure outcomes that have emerged through the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and its broader network. "The Internet didn't stay unified by chance. Its resilience is the result of people and institutions working across borders and sectors," said Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN President and CEO. "This report underscores that the Internet's success is not accidental; it's coordinated. If we value a single, secure, and interoperable Internet, then we must recommit to the model that made it possible." "For twenty years, the IGF has shown that multistakeholder governance delivers," said Sally Wentworth, President and CEO of the Internet Society. "Its footprint spans infrastructure, security, access, and policy—often in places where conventional governance falls short. But the gains we've made are only as strong as our commitment to keep investing in them." Key Findings Infrastructure ImpactInternet Exchange Points (IXPs), which allow local Internet traffic to be exchanged more efficiently, more than doubled in Africa over the past decade. This growth has reduced latency, improved service quality, and cut operational costs for providers. Global ReachMore than 4.4 million domain names are now registered in non-Latin scripts, significantly expanding digital access for communities using Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, and other scripts. Universal Acceptance Day 2025 was marked by over 50 international events promoting full linguistic functionality across the Internet ecosystem. Internet Security at ScaleToday, 93 percent of top-level domains are protected using Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), a protocol that helps prevent DNS-based cyberattacks by verifying data authenticity. In parallel, more than 1,000 networks around the world have adopted the Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security (MANRS), an initiative that promotes responsible routing practices and mitigates systemic vulnerabilities. Policy EngagementOver 180 National and Regional Internet Governance Forums (NRIs) are active worldwide. Youth IGFs have brought new perspectives into national and international policy dialogues, while the IGF Parliamentary Track has helped shape legislative thinking on digital trust, rights, and inclusion. A Pivotal MomentThe report is being launched ahead of the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), a milestone that is expected to influence how global digital cooperation evolves in the coming decade. Against this backdrop, ICANN and ISOC are calling for renewed attention to the institutions and frameworks that have supported a unified, secure, and open Internet. Rather than offering abstract conclusions, the report is structured around practical and globally sourced examples. It aims to inform current debates by showing what has worked and what could be at risk if support for distributed, collaborative governance falters. Download the full report. About ICANNICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world. For more information, please visit: About the Internet SocietyFounded in 1992 by Internet pioneers, the Internet Society is a global non-profit organization working to ensure the Internet is for everyone. Through its community of members, special interest groups, and 130+ chapters around the world, the organization defends and promotes Internet policies, standards, and protocols that keep the Internet open, globally connected, and secure. For more information, please visit: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE ICANN View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
10-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
What Holds the Internet Together and Why It's Now at Risk
A new report from ICANN and the Internet Society details how the Internet Governance Forum has supported a stable and secure Internet—and why that model is now under strain. PRAGUE, June 10, 2025 /CNW/ -- As global discussions intensify around the future of Internet governance, two of the Internet's long-standing technical institutions—the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Society (ISOC)—are urging renewed focus on what has kept the Internet open and operational for more than two decades: collaborative coordination across borders and sectors. Released today, the joint report Footprints of 20 Years of the Internet Governance Forum illustrates how cooperation among governments, engineers, civil society, and businesses has helped maintain a single, secure, and globally accessible Internet. The report draws from a range of technical, policy, and infrastructure outcomes that have emerged through the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and its broader network. "The Internet didn't stay unified by chance. Its resilience is the result of people and institutions working across borders and sectors," said Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN President and CEO. "This report underscores that the Internet's success is not accidental; it's coordinated. If we value a single, secure, and interoperable Internet, then we must recommit to the model that made it possible." "For twenty years, the IGF has shown that multistakeholder governance delivers," said Sally Wentworth, President and CEO of the Internet Society. "Its footprint spans infrastructure, security, access, and policy—often in places where conventional governance falls short. But the gains we've made are only as strong as our commitment to keep investing in them." Key Findings Infrastructure Impact Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), which allow local Internet traffic to be exchanged more efficiently, more than doubled in Africa over the past decade. This growth has reduced latency, improved service quality, and cut operational costs for providers. Global Reach More than 4.4 million domain names are now registered in non-Latin scripts, significantly expanding digital access for communities using Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, and other scripts. Universal Acceptance Day 2025 was marked by over 50 international events promoting full linguistic functionality across the Internet ecosystem. Internet Security at Scale Today, 93 percent of top-level domains are protected using Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), a protocol that helps prevent DNS-based cyberattacks by verifying data authenticity. In parallel, more than 1,000 networks around the world have adopted the Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security (MANRS), an initiative that promotes responsible routing practices and mitigates systemic vulnerabilities. Policy Engagement Over 180 National and Regional Internet Governance Forums (NRIs) are active worldwide. Youth IGFs have brought new perspectives into national and international policy dialogues, while the IGF Parliamentary Track has helped shape legislative thinking on digital trust, rights, and inclusion. A Pivotal Moment The report is being launched ahead of the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), a milestone that is expected to influence how global digital cooperation evolves in the coming decade. Against this backdrop, ICANN and ISOC are calling for renewed attention to the institutions and frameworks that have supported a unified, secure, and open Internet. Rather than offering abstract conclusions, the report is structured around practical and globally sourced examples. It aims to inform current debates by showing what has worked and what could be at risk if support for distributed, collaborative governance falters. Download the full report. About ICANN ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world. For more information, please visit: About the Internet Society Founded in 1992 by Internet pioneers, the Internet Society is a global non-profit organization working to ensure the Internet is for everyone. Through its community of members, special interest groups, and 130+ chapters around the world, the organization defends and promotes Internet policies, standards, and protocols that keep the Internet open, globally connected, and secure. For more information, please visit:
Zawya
09-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Benin and Senegal Experience Highest Growth in African Internet Resilience: Internet Society Pulse Country Report 2024
According to new data released by the Internet Society, West African countries are making notable strides in digital development, with several countries in the region improving their Internet resilience. This progress underscores the region's growing commitment to enhancing digital infrastructure, security, and market readiness, ensuring more stable and accessible online services for millions. The Internet Society's Pulse Internet Resilience Index —which tracks key indicators such as infrastructure, performance, security, and market preparedness—reveals that West Africa's overall Internet resilience score has climbed to 34%, marking a two-percentage-point increase between 2022 and 2023. This upward trend translates into more reliable access to essential online services, including education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, reinforcing the Internet's role as a key driver of development across the region. Benin (39%) and Senegal (36%) secured impressive six- and ten-point increases between 2022 and 2023, the highest increases among African countries. This moved them into the second and fifth positions in West Africa. 'Senegal has changed remarkably over the last few years,' commented Ahmath Bamba Mbacke, President of Internet Society Senegal Chapter. 'Over 60% of the population has access to the Internet, and at least 96% of Internet users have access to at least one device with 4G mobile Internet. 20% of users in Senegal can access online resources using IPv6, which is far above the average 7% for Africa. There are concerted efforts to improve upstream diversity to ensure that our in-country infrastructure can recover from unexpected events with the help of SENIX (Senegalese IXP) and keep our Internet stable and secure in the face of adversity.' 'There has been a marked effort to improve Internet infrastructure in Benin,' says Malick Alassane, Chair of Internet Society Benin Chapter. 'Strong foundations have been laid to continue improving Internet access, security, performance, and market readiness across the country to ensure that more people can take advantage of the social and economic benefits that strong, resilient, and stable Internet brings to the country and West Africa as a whole. The development of this environment and trusted infrastructures in our country has led, for example, to the emergence of new e-service platforms, now accessible in just one click, making life easier for citizens and businesses.' Côte d'Ivoire continues to have the highest IRI score in the region (42%) and the sixth highest in Africa. Although it didn't experience any growth between 2022 and 2023, its score has increased by 12 points since 2019. Benin, Burkina Faso (38%), Nigeria (38%), Senegal (36%), and Ghana (36%) round out the top six countries in West Africa. Niger (27%) was the only country in the region to experience a decrease in its Internet Resilience Index score for the past 12 months. As the individual Pulse Country Reports show, these changes are driven by multiple factors, including investment in Internet infrastructure and security, increased usage of IPv6, enabling policies, and growing collaboration among governments, technology providers, and local communities. An equally contributing factor is how much popular content is accessed through in-country servers and caches. Currently, Ghana has the highest percentage of the 1,000 most popular websites that its Internet users access locally (58%), followed by Togo (46%) and Nigeria (38%). Benin, Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Sierra Leone access between 96-100% of all their most popular content from outside the region. The Internet Society is working with local partners in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger to increase this locally cached content figure to 50% by the end of 2025. 'Hosting popular content and local digital services within countries and regions is a cost-effective way to improve Internet performance and resilience,' says Michuki Mwangi, Internet Society Distinguished Technologist for Internet Growth. 'Importantly, the cost savings from not having to pay to access the content via international connections can be reinvested to improve the network or passed on to Internet users.' Data centres and Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) help in this effort as they help store content closer to end users and create shorter, more direct routes for Internet traffic instead of sending and receiving it via expensive international links. IXPs are Internet intersections, where networks connect locally to exchange traffic and help make the Internet faster and more affordable. Copyright © 2022 - All materials can be used freely, indicating the origin Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Euronews
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Signal was a 'risky' choice for sharing classified plans. Which is the most secure messaging app?
ADVERTISEMENT A mere three days after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth boasted on national television that America "no longer looked like fools," it emerged that he was part of a group of high-ranking officials who inadvertently texted plans for an attack in Yemen to a journalist. Hegseth, alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and others, had been using the messaging platform Signal to discuss highly sensitive and classified information. Democratic lawmakers swiftly condemned this as an "egregious" security breach, and US President Donald Trump said he knew "nothing about it," as his team claimed a "glitch" was to blame for the addition of journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a message chain named "Houthi PC small group". Related What is Signal and should US officials have used it to share Yemen air strike plans? Though encrypted and technically secure, the platform is "full of risks" related to human error and spyware, and was not the appropriate choice for such a conversation, argues Callum Voge, Director of Governmental Affairs and Advocacy at Internet Society. "Governments have specific protocols for protecting classified information, and those protocols usually state that classified info can only be shared under certain conditions. So when people say Signal isn't appropriate for sharing state secrets, it's not just about Signal - it's about any consumer messaging app. Whether it's WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram, they all pose risks," Voge told Euronews Next. A key danger is that Signal is available to the general public and used by millions worldwide. "Anyone in the world can create a Signal account. So, for example, someone without security clearance could be accidentally added to a group chat. That's one way secrets could be leaked - by accident, human error, or on purpose," Voge added. "Also, Signal is used on personal devices. That introduces the risk of spyware - software that can record what's happening on your device in real-time and send it to a third party. So even if Signal is the most secure app in the world, if your phone has spyware, it's still a leak". Related 'My concerns are more about people, institutions than the tech': Signal's Meredith Whittaker on AI Warnings Signal was a target for hackers In fact, the Pentagon issued a department-wide memo just days after the Signal group chat leak, warning that Russian professional hacking groups were actively targeting the app. According to the memo, the attackers were exploiting Signal's "linked devices" feature - a legitimate function that allows users to access their account across multiple devices - to spy on encrypted conversations. If a device is compromised - whether through malware, unauthorised access, or sophisticated spyware like Pegasus - encryption becomes irrelevant. Gustavo Alito Cybersecurity expert, Equans BeLux "Signal's effectiveness depends on the security of the device used. It's like installing the most secure alarm system in a house without doors," Gustavo Alito, a cybersecurity expert at Equans BeLux, noted. "If a device is compromised - whether through malware, unauthorised access, or sophisticated spyware like Pegasus - encryption becomes irrelevant. Attackers can monitor and capture all device activity in real time, including messages being written," he told Euronews Next. "A surprising development in this case is that reports indicate Signal was pre-installed on US government devices. While this suggests an institutional push for encrypted communication, it also raises concerns," Alito added. "The fact that Signal was made widely available may have led officials to assume it was approved for classified discussions, despite warnings from the NSA and the Defence Department against using it for sensitive matters". Related What is Pegasus, the Israeli mobile phone spyware used by governments around the world? Signal, WeChat, WhatsApp, Telegram: Which is the most secure platform? On the low end of the spectrum, where messages are most vulnerable, are platforms that either lack end-to-end encryption or don't enable it by default. ADVERTISEMENT According to Voge, "that means it's encrypted from endpoint to endpoint. So, for example, one endpoint is your phone and the other is mine - and as the conversation or text goes back and forth between us, no third party can decrypt it, not even the provider". Apps like WeChat, for instance, do not offer end-to-end encryption, meaning messages can potentially be accessed by the service provider or government authorities - a major concern in countries like China. Similarly, Telegram does not encrypt group chats or even one-on-one chats by default; users must manually enable "secret chats" for end-to-end protection. Because of this, messages on these platforms are more susceptible to interception. At the high-security end are apps like Signal, WhatsApp, and to a limited extent, iMessage, all of which offer end-to-end encryption by default. ADVERTISEMENT Among them, Signal stands out for its open-source protocol, non-profit governance, minimal metadata retention, and default encryption across messages, calls, and group chats. Related Whatsapp faces strictest EU platform rules, but not Telegram WhatsApp, while also encrypted using Signal's protocol, is owned by Meta and retains more metadata, which some view as a potential vulnerability. iMessage is considered technically secure, but it's a closed-source, Apple-only system, which limits transparency and auditing. So, Signal is widely regarded by experts as the gold standard for encrypted messaging, but, as we've just seen, it is not immune to risks stemming from user error, device compromise, or misuse in contexts requiring classified communication protocols. "Like any company, Signal regularly audits other parts of their app - like how users verify their phone numbers or add new devices. Sometimes issues come up, and they respond with security patches, which they publish on their website with details," said Voge. ADVERTISEMENT "You may have heard of a recent vulnerability involving Russia. This was a phishing attack used in Ukraine: attackers sent fake QR codes to trick people into joining Signal groups. When someone scanned the code, it linked a new device to their account - effectively hijacking it," he continued. "It wasn't a flaw in the encryption protocol, but in how Signal handled device linking. Signal responded with an update - now, if you want to link a new device, you need Face ID or Touch ID". Related Report shows how messaging apps are used to spread political propaganda What's the best way to message securely? So what should Hegseth, Vance, Waltz and the rest of the Houthi PC small group have done instead? The US government almost certainly has its own systems for handling classified information. ADVERTISEMENT "Government officials are generally expected to use special devices and systems not available to the public. You might imagine a platform that only government officials can download, and maybe even has levels of classification built in - like confidential, secret, and top secret," said Voge. Indeed, he pictures "a government setting in which officials go to a secure room, leave their personal devices behind, and use a special computer that's not connected to the Internet to access sensitive information". "Since people travel, there are probably government networks or apps only accessible to officials using government-provided devices. These systems wouldn't be available to the public, and probably have built-in ways of handling classification levels," he added. Related Telegram ban: Which countries are clamping down on it and why? Or, as Alito puts it, "a government-approved, end-to-end encrypted system designed specifically for classified communications. Secure platforms like the NSA's Secure Communications Interoperability Protocol (SCIP) or classified networks such as SIPRNet and JWICS are more aligned with a governmental organisation's security and encryption needs". ADVERTISEMENT The system should also allow for records of conversations to be kept, which ties into record-keeping laws. "Some governments require policymakers to retain a record of their messages or emails. But Signal has features like disappearing messages. So if government officials use it, that record of communication could be lost, which may go against transparency or accountability laws," Voge said.
