Multiple-language domain names pose security risk

The introduction of non-Latin based characters into web addresses could attract phishing scams, according to domain-name marketplace Sedo.

Domain names could soon be written using characters from other languages, so they can be understood natively, thanks to plans approved by ICANN.

At the moment, web addresses are made up predominantly of western, Latin-based characters. ICANN's plans would see characters from languages such as Mandarin, Arabic, Hindu and Russian Cyrillic included, most notably in the suffix, replacing '.com'.

Domain name companies are positively encouraging the changes yet have also voiced their concerns that the introduction of non-Latin characters could attract phishing scams.

"Security measures will need to be taken extremely seriously. The incidental difference between BankofAmerica.com from BánkofAmerica.com would be a prime opportunity for cybercriminals to take advantage of the average web user," said Nora Nanayakkara, director of business development at domain-name marketplace, Sedo.

Rod Beckstrom, president of ICANN, told a conference in South Korea where the plans were unveiled, that "of the 1.6 billion users today worldwide, more than half use languages that have scripts that are not Latin-based. It's about making the internet more global and more accessible. One world, one internet".

The first International Domain Names (IDNs) are expected to be up and running by the middle of next year, following nine years of work and two years of testing.