The top-level domain (TLD) “.RU” is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) assigned for the Russian Federation. Top-level domains are the highest level of domain names in the hierarchy of the Domain Name System (DNS) of the internet. They are installed in the root zone of the internet’s DNS. There are several types of TLDs, including generic top-level domains (gTLDs), such as .com, .org and .net, and country code top-level domains (ccTLDs), such as .jp for Japan, .cn for China, and .ru for Russia (IANA.org).
The .RU domain extension was officially delegated to the Coordination Centre for TLD RU on April 7, 1994 by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), an international organization responsible for overseeing the internet’s domain name system. ICANN authorizes and regulates all TLDs worldwide (ICANN.org).
The Coordination Centre for TLD RU is the official registry for the .RU domain extension. They manage the operation, functionality, and policy-making of the .RU domain. This includes determining who can register a .RU domain, how it can be used, and resolving disputes over .RU domain names (cctld.ru).
Any individual or business, regardless of location, can register a domain name with .RU extension. It is widely used in Russia and is one of the most popular ccTLDs globally. Some well-known companies using the .RU extension include Yandex.ru, a widely used Russian search engine, and Vkontakte.ru, Russia’s most popular social networking site (Alexa.com).
However, from a cyber security perspective, it’s worth noting that .RU has frequently been associated with cyber crime and spamming activities. A study by McAfee found that .ru is one among some of the riskiest top-level domains. Therefore, users should exercise caution when accessing websites with this domain (McAfee, 2013).
In conclusion, the .RU TLD is the country code top-level domain designated for the Russian Federation. It can be used by anyone worldwide, and is managed by the Coordination Centre for TLD RU. In spite of its popularity in Russia and globally, users should also be aware of potential security risks associated with it.
Sources:
1. “IANA — .ru Domain Delegation Data.” IANA.org. Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. Web.
2. “About ICANN.” ICANN.org. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Web.
3. “Coordination Center for TLD RU.” cctld.ru.
4. Top Sites in Russia. 2021. Alexa.com.
5. “Mapping the Mal Web, Revisited.” McAfee, 2013.
