Combating cybercrime
Under certain conditions, the registries for the “.ch” and “.swiss” domain are required to block domain names suspected of being used for phishing, for the distribution of harmful software ("malware") or to support such activities.
The measures to combat cybercrime using domain names as laid down in the Ordinance on Internet Domains (OID; CC 784.104.2) apply to top-level internet domains for the management of which the Confederation is responsible, i.e. the ".ch" and ".swiss" domains; in particular, they give the registries responsible for the management of these resources the possibility of temporarily blocking ".ch" and ".swiss" domain names where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they are being used:
- to access sensitive data using illegal methods (phishing)
- to distribute or operate harmful software ("malware") or
- to support any of these activities.
Registries are, moreover, obliged to block these domain names at the request of an anti-cybercrime service recognised by OFCOM.
Under Article 15 para. 1 let. b of the OID, it is OFCOM's task to recognise the services which may request the ".ch" and ".swiss" registries to block domain names. Recognition of such a service is not automatic, but requires that the requesting service submits a justified written recognition request to OFCOM (cf. Section 5 of the Technical and Administrative Regulations regarding the assignment and management of ".ch" domain names, CC 784.101.113/2.13 and Section 9 of the Technical and Administrative Regulations regarding the assignment and management of ".swiss" domain names, CC 784.101.113/2.14).
List of recognised anti-cybercrime services according to Art. 15 para. 3 OID (CC 784.104.2)
Guidelines for interpreting the measures to be taken in cases of suspicion of abuse (Art. 15 et seq. OID)
This document is intended to assist anti-cybercrime services recognised by OFCOM in taking suitable measures in cases of suspected abuse involving .ch or .swiss domain names.
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Legal basis
ODI Ordinance on Internet Domains (SR 784.104.2)
CC 784.101.113/2.13 Technical and Administrative Regulations regarding the assignment and management of second-level domain names under the “.ch” domain 8th edition: 18.11.2020 / Entry into force: 01.01.2021
CC 784.101.113/2.14 Technical and Administrative Regulations regarding the assignment and management of second-level domain names under the ".swiss" domain 3nd edition: 18.11.2020 / Entry into force: 01.01.2021
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