PR88113

ZURICH, February 17, 2021, /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Quad9 is the first DNS security solution to extend GDPR privacy protections to

internet users worldwide.

Quad9, the global, not-for-profit Domain Name System (DNS) security platform,

today announced that it has moved its headquarters from California to Zürich,

Switzerland supported by Packet Clearing House and SWITCH.

Quad9 has set itself apart from other DNS providers by voluntarily placing

itself within a jurisdiction which strictly enforces privacy laws to the

highest global standards. Considered a stronghold of individual rights,

Switzerland has a legal privacy regime harmonized with the European-standard

General Data Protection Regulation. It grants individuals enforceable rights

and effective remedies, giving Quad9 users around the world the full protection

of Swiss law. This and other important concessions and findings of law from the

Swiss government which ensure Quad9 users' privacy and security, have made

Quad9's selection of domicile a natural choice.

Quad9 is the only global DNS security provider to offer these universal privacy

protections.

Privacy by Force of Law

Unlike commercial DNS operators, which profit from the sale of users' personal

information and internet browsing history, Quad9 collects no personal

information. Users' queries and addresses are neither collected nor recorded,

and thus no third parties have access to them. Quad9 is a not-for-profit

organization with transparent governance and finances, supported by donations,

and dedicated exclusively to the operation of private and secure DNS services.

"The privacy protection claims of DNS security solutions are only meaningful if

they are bound under law and enforced by an empowered authority. Privacy

policies which are not backed by law are empty promises," said John Todd,

general manager of Quad9.

Quad9 is under the supervision of the Federal Data Protection and Information

Commissioner and subject to Swiss jurisdiction. The Swiss Data Protection Act

does not contain any restriction regarding the citizenship or residence of the

individuals whose personal rights are to be protected by the law. By using

Quad9, anyone in the world can receive the same, fully legally enforced,

protection as a Swiss citizen.

Privacy Risks of the Domain Name System

Whenever users use the internet, they leave a trail of digital footprints.

Recursive DNS providers are the chokepoint through which all users' actions

pass, and this is where personal information can be scrutinized, recorded, and

turned into dossiers for sale. Unlike other large DNS providers, which are

domiciled in the United States, a jurisdiction that shields them from privacy

claims and responsibility to users, Quad9 has placed itself under the legally

binding authority of a strong privacy regulator. The strength of Swiss law,

combined with Quad9's mission and transparent privacy practices, guarantee that

personal data will never be collected, analyzed, or sold.

Protection Against Cybercrime

Independent tests show that Quad9 also prevents users' devices from connecting

to 97% of malicious web sites. To achieve this success rate, Quad9 aggregates

information from many cyber threat analysts, now including SWITCH, to form a

uniquely comprehensive database of malicious domains. When a Quad9 user

connects to the internet, Quad9 checks their destination in that database and

blocks the connection if connecting to it would harm the user.  Quad9 operates

in more than 150 locations in ninety countries and protects internet users from

more than sixty million malicious attacks each day.

Collaboration With SWITCH

Quad9's move to Switzerland is being facilitated by SWITCH, one of

Switzerland's centers of competence for internet security. The foundation

operates several critical infrastructures and has been committed to greater

cybersecurity for decades to make the internet a more secure place for its

users. SWITCH is taking a seat on Quad9's foundation council and contributing

to Quad9's governance.

"In less than five years, Quad9 has built a global alternative to the

commercial DNS platforms that are focused on reaping profit from user data,"

said Tom Kleiber, managing director of SWITCH. "We look forward to expanding

Quad9's reach and impact to show internet users across the globe that security

can be improved without exploiting their privacy."

Using Quad9

Quad9 is free and available throughout the world. Users may configure their

computer's DNS resolvers to 9.9.9.9, 149.112.112.112 and 2620:FE::FE. For a

step-by-step guide or for more advanced options, please visit https://quad9.net.

About Quad9

Quad9 is a recursive DNS service providing cybersecurity protection against

malware and phishing. As a not-for-profit organization, Quad9 does not collect

or resell personal data and provides a trusted service to individuals and

organizations at no cost and with no contract. The organization was launched in

2017 and now is operational in more than 150 locations in 90 countries. Quad9

exists to improve end user protection and privacy worldwide in addition to

promoting the stability and security of the internet.

Learn more at https://www.quad9.net

About SWITCH

SWITCH is a trusted partner for digitalization issues that jointly concern the

education, research and innovation community in Switzerland. The independent

foundation helps universities and other partners take advantage of the

possibilities of digitalization within and outside the academic world. SWITCH

has been the registry for .ch and .li domain names since the early days of the

internet. As one of Switzerland's centers of competence for security on the

internet, SWITCH operates a multi-sector CERT providing services for

universities, the domain registry, banks, industry, logistics and the energy

sector.

Learn more at https://www.switch.ch

Press conference, February 17, 2021 at 11am (CET): https://swit.ch/quad9

Contacts

For Quad9

Vrge Strategies, Adam Benson, adam@vrge.us

For SWITCH

SWITCH, Roland Eugster, press@SWITCH.ch

SOURCE: Quad9