China announces ".cn" registration overhaul

Chinese authorities are now insisting on paperwork that proves the applicant's identity

Chinese officials have enacted a new set of registration guidelines that experts say could help curb cybercrime on ".cn" domains.

The China Internet Network Information Center said that it would be enacting a new set of regulations that will require webmasters to submit a paper application and show ID when registering a domain name.

The new set of rules will force applicants to provide the application along with photocopies of both the user's ID and business licence. Each of the applications would then be reviewed by an official.

Webmasters will be forced to submit the application within five days of registering the site or risk losing control over the address.

Security experts suggested that the move could help to stop the growth of malicious sites within the .cn domain. A recent report from McAfee had China rated as the second most dangerous national domain suffix.

"This would be a great step in making the domain name space of .cn a safer place," wrote McAfee researcher Toralv Dirro in a blog posting.

"This change will make the .cn domain very unattractive for criminals and fraudsters who are looking for domains for which they can register anonymously, preferably paying with stolen credit card information."