DotAsia has agreed to become the first domain registry to ban domain names which are repeatedly used for phishing sites.

Since registries usually only oversee the technical functioning of their top-level domains, it is a pioneering step for DotAsia to take on the role of mediating the content of their TLD and banning fraudulent sites. With phishing a rising problem, Internet security experts are arguing that the domain names of these websites are the weakest link; phishing sites usually use dozens of IP addresses so shutting those down is very difficult, but to close down the Domain Name is to attack closer to the root of the problem.

Although this won’t solve all the phishing problems for the DotAsia TLD, it will severely reduce the number of domains available for use as phishing sites. Since domains which are similar to trademarked domains, particularly those of the websites of banks, shopping sites and other secure web pages, if .asia domains are banned from the registry as soon as they are used for phishing purposes, it will be more difficult – and less cost-effective – for fraudsters to set up phishing sites.

ICANN is considering making all registries adopt the anti-phishing policy as part of their top-level domain management contract.