The Ticking Time Bomb of IPv6 Migration

[Peaches]

Jul19

The Ticking Time Bomb of IPv6 Migration

How IPv4 addresses will run out

We know how IPv4 addresses will be exhausted. By policy, when there are only five remaining unallocated /8 IP blocks, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) will assign each of the five regional Internet registries (RIRs) their final IPv4 address spaces. (As of this writing, there are 16 unallocated /8 blocks.) From that point on, each registrar is on its own. This will be the first concrete indicator that we will be exhausting IPv4 space soon.

At this point, a rush to buy IPv4 space will happen. Most RIRs have between one and two /8 blocks in reserve. Service providers who want to keep IPv4 will be looking to snatch up extra space to ensure that they have room to grow. We should see IPv6 growth here, as IPv4 users watching from the sidelines will need to start moving before their services are affected.

Unfortunately, this means we should expect a full suite of related scams and frauds. These will most likely play on fears of network instability or (un)preparedness such as:

• Pay us $XXX to convert your existing IP addresses to IPv6.

• For a fee, we will guarantee that you can keep your IPv4 addresses.

There is also a potential for a gray/black market dealing in the IPv4 space. This could eventually lead to prefix hijacking. An offer to buy unused IPv4 space for a seemingly large payout may be legitimate. However, you will still be the registered owner of that block in the whois and RIR databases. Any malicious activity found there may cause you a knock on the door from a government agency.

Full story - http://blog.trendmicro.com/