DHS wants DNSSEC master key

[bascule]

Hopefully this isn't too politically charged an issue:

http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/87655

The Department of Homeland Security has requested to be the holder of the master key which would be used to sign the keys (held by VeriSign) used to authenticate the authority of the root servers.

The (obvious) alternative is for the master key to be held by ICANN/IANA.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: DHS wants DNSSEC master key

civilian resources should have civilian oversight and control. that's my $0.02. while i could see the argument someone could make for .mil or .gov control of a resource that has become as ubiquitous as the power grid, there is no outright need for it. hell... come to speak of it, does the government have any hooks directly into the functionality of the real power grid? or do they just have the opportunity to send down specific edicts from the Dept. of Energy in times of crisis?

[Thorn]

Re: DHS wants DNSSEC master key

hell... come to speak of it, does the government have any hooks directly into the functionality of the real power grid? or do they just have the opportunity to send down specific edicts from the Dept. of Energy in times of crisis?

Ask Agent-X about the power grid. It's decentralized, and weirdly antiquated. He recently asked about an electrical system's feedback circuits in regard to a project he was working on. Expecting to hear about something sophisticated and extremely high-tech, he was astonished to hear that they have no way to monitor distinct areas of the grid. When asked how they can tell the power is out in given area, he was told "People call us and say their lights are out."

[astcell]

Re: DHS wants DNSSEC master key

Just make your own key.