AMSTERDAM. Spam originating from Chinese domains has decreased from a 50% to a mere 20% level of spam sent worldwide. This is after the Chinese Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) introduced new regulations for the registration of a Chinese top level domain '.cn' in December 2009.
China's Internet presence is large and powerful and thus also a very attractive environment for spammers. Since December 2009, domain name registrars make it more difficult to purchase a .cn domain. Applicants now have to submit a formal application form, including licenses and a photocopy of their ID. These changes make the whole Chinese IT-network a much safer place and China is becoming a leading example in the fight against cyber fraud.
“By anonymously registering a top level domain, spammers could easily increase their activities without being caught”, according to Silvia Ott of the email security company SpamExperts. “By not having to expose their details and location, nobody would ever find them and thus ease the process of sending out spam. This has changed!”
The fight against spammers in a very rapidly growing economy is a great challenge. Chinese registrars refused to cooperate with online-security companies in the past and China was considered a safe-haven for cyber criminals.
