this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2023
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What's the issue with those TLDs?
See https://youtu.be/GCVJsz7EODA and https://youtu.be/V82lHNsSPww
There are a few problems, but I believe the biggest issue is that .zip and .mov are valid and common file extensions, and it's common for people to write something like 'example dot zip' or 'attachment dot mov' in emails, tweets, etc. Things like email clients have features where they automatically convert text that looks like a web address into clickable links. So now, retroactively, all those emails etc suddenly have a link, where they used to just have text, and the domains that are equivalent to those previously benign file names are being purchased by nefarious actors to exploit people unaware of the issue.
Here is an alternative Piped link(s): https://piped.video/GCVJsz7EODA
https://piped.video/V82lHNsSPww
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source, check me out at GitHub.
Yeah, you have a point. I may go block those TLDs tonight.
But there's only an issue if the software you're using auto linkifies the domain. They often don't and won't. This seems like a hypothetical problem that probably doesn't exist for most major software. I certainly know no email software is gonna auto linkify this.
If you're curious, you can see if whatever software you're viewing this post in auto linkifies (neither are for me): hshshssu.zip iwuf8aowk.mov
(And if we're manually linkifying, then you don't need to use the new TLD. Eg, not-a-virus.zip.)
At 1:30 in that second video, he shows that YouTube already converts dot zip domains, even in old comments that predate the domain's existence. At 3:19, he shows/mentions Twitter, Reddit, Facebook, and LinkedIn. I would consider those major platforms. And keep in mind, it only takes one person downloading one file to cause major damage - the LMG hack was due to someone downloading and trying to open a fake PDF that was sent via email: https://youtu.be/yGXaAWbzl5A.
So yes, not everything does or will auto convert the links, but I think you are underestimating the potential for issues here.
https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/23/e/future-exploitation-vector-file-extensions-as-top-level-domains.html
Actually really huge security threats. It's a very good idea to block them. I especially did because my girlfriend works for the government and does some secret stuff that can't really get out, and she deals with a ton of real .zip files. I think everyone regardless of who they are should make sure to block them.