The top-level domain (TLD) “.xn—kcrx77d1×4a” is an Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) TLD. In Unicode (the universal character set), “xn—kcrx77d1×4a” is represented as “.कॉम”, which is the Devanagari script version of “.com”. The Unicode Consortium has a comprehensive list of these TLDs and their Unicode representations, which you can refer to for more information (Unicode Consortium, 2021).
Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) TLDs were introduced to allow internet users around the world to use domain names in their native languages/scripts. These domain names are encoded in Punycode, a special encoding used to convert Unicode characters to ASCII, which is supported by the Domain Name System (DNS). The process of converting a Unicode string into an ASCII-compatible string is called “ToASCII” and the reverse operation, which converts an ASCII string into a Unicode string, is called “ToUnicode”. For instance, “कॉम” gets converted to “xn—kcrx77d1×4a” as a part of the DNS query (ICANN, 2016).
Considering the diverse internet user base, IDN TLDs play an important role in removing language barriers and promoting internet usage in various scripts. They are particularly advantageous in nations where ASCII characters are not commonly used, effectively making the internet more accessible and user-friendly.
While helpful, these IDN TLDs have also been associated with certain security risks. A particular kind of phishing attack known as Punycode phishing or homograph attack exploits the similarity of character scripts to trick users into visiting malicious websites. Here, an attacker can use an IDN TLD that looks very similar to a trusted ASCII domain, thus fooling users into believing that they are visiting a legitimate site (Chachra, 2019). Cybersecurity firms constantly monitor and update these threats to improve internet security (NortonLifeLock, 2021).
In conclusion, the top-level domain “.xn—kcrx77d1×4a” is the Punycode representation of the Devanagari script version of “.com”. Introduced by ICANN, these IDN TLDs promote inclusivity and diversification of the internet by eliminating language barriers. However, they also pose potential security risks which are being actively mitigated by cybersecurity agencies.
Sources:
1. Unicode Consortium. (2021). Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) – Unicode Consortium.
2. ICANN | Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. (2016). Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) Program.
3. Chachra, N. (2019). Overview of Punycode Attacks | Edgescan.
4. NortonLifeLock. (2021). What is a Homograph Attack?
