auDA commits $2.5m to safeguard DNS encryption

The .au Domain Administration (auDA) has awarded $2.5 million over three years (2025-2028) for research and development (R&D) grant funding for two projects to safeguard the encryption used by the Domain Name System (DNS) against the threat of quantum computing, and reduce the impact of scams among people with cognitive disability.

The two projects were selected from a competitive application process, with auDA saying that "each impressed the assessment panel with their innovative, multi-stakeholder approach to improving how people access and benefit from the internet".

The auDA is the administrator of the .au DNS, which supports more than 4 million .au domain names.

Led by Deakin University, in partnership with CSIRO-Data61 and QuintessenceLabs, the first project to receive funding seeks to identify, implement and evaluate modifications to the encryption used in Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), aiding the transition to a quantum-safe DNS while maintaining operational reliability. 

Monash University, together with the National Anti-Scam Centre, Westpac, QUT, Brain Injury Matters and disability consumers, will develop prevention and support strategies and resources to help people with cognitive disability, such as brain injury, intellectual disability, or dementia avoid and recover from online scams.

This project, the second to receive funding, will strengthen frontline responses for cyberscam victims, conduct a national trial of a co-designed support program for victims, and distribute free education material nationwide, empowering people with disability to participate more securely online.

auDA CEO Bruce Tonkin said the two auDA supported R&D projects will make a direct and meaningful contribution to the future security and stability of the DNS and support vulnerable Australians to recover from and protect themselves from online scams.

"I congratulate the research teams in their successful applications and look forward to the immense benefit these projects will bring to Australians," he said.

The inaugural grant round of auDA’s R&D Program was announced in August 2024.

The Program is part of auDA’s Public Benefit Program, designed to unlock positive social and economic value for Australians from the internet.

Since 2006 auDA has supported research and innovation, funding over 185 community projects that contribute to improving the utility of the internet for all Australians.