Definition[]
The Internet Protocol is
“ | [a] formal set of conventions (both semantic and syntactic) governing the format and control of interaction among parts of the system that communicates with each other.[1] | ” |
“ | a set of procedures in a telecommunications network that terminals or nodes in that network use to send signals back and forth and that track the address of nodes, route outgoing messages, and recognize incoming messages. | ” |
Overview[]
The existing Internet Protocol (Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4)) — supports a maximum of 4.3 billion IP addresses, limiting the number of devices that can be given a unique IP address to connect to the Internet.
Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the next generation of the Internet Protocol (IP). IPv6 will provide the Internet with one billion-squared IP addresses, which should suffice for many years.
Vulnerabilities[]
Existing Internet protocols were not designed for today’s Internet, where the trustworthiness of users cannot be assumed and where high-stakes, mission-critical applications increasingly reside. Malicious users exploit the weakness of existing Internet protocols to achieve anonymity and use that anonymity as a safe haven from which to launch repeated attacks on their victims.