Like “.com”, “.org”, and “.net”,  the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has also been proposing some new Internet domain name suffixes. But, according to Associated Press, a technical glitch has forced an abrupt shutdown of the ICANN system. As per the AP report, the glitch may also have resulted in exposure of some private data.

Nevertheless, the ICANN has been taking applications for new suffixes to join “.com” and others in use, wrote AP reporter Anick Jesdanun. “Up to 1,000 domain name suffixes could be added each year in the most sweeping change to the domain name system since its creation in the 1980s,” added Jesdanun.

The new domain name suffixes will enable large corporations like Cannon to bring customers to “cameras.Canon” or “printers.Canon” and Las Vegas hotels, casinos and other attractions can drive visitors to “.Vegas”, wrote Jesdanun. The AP report indicates that the new ICANN system will also make Chinese, Japanese and Swahili versions of “.com” possible.

Since the discovery of the glitch, the ICANN system has been shut down and is now expected to reopen on Tuesday. And the deadline has been extended to Friday, reported the Associated Press.

According to ICANN, as reported, the software glitch “allowed a limited number of users to view some other users' file names and user names in certain scenarios.” However, it was not immediately clear whether that included proprietary information on the names of the bidders and their proposed suffixes, wrote Jesdanun.

A comment from ICANN chief operating officer Akram Atallah was posted on its website that said, “Out of an abundance of caution, we took the system offline to protect applicant data.” 

“We are examining how this issue occurred and considering appropriate steps forward,” added Atallah.

The AP report shows that the glitch did not affect general availability of the Internet's domain name system, as well as the ability to register new names under existing suffixes.