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Authentication options for mntner objects

Authentication methods currently supported by the database are described below.

Authentication keyword Description
BCRYPT-PW

Stored in the auth attribute as a fixed hashed password in BCRYPT-PW format.

Advantages of this method include:

  • Ease of use

Disadvantages of this method include:

  • Database submissions via email must include the clear text password which may be intercepted.
To update your maintainer object to use BCRYPT-PW, please go to MyAPNIC.

Note: WHOIS currently also supports CRYPT-PW and MD5, but they will be deprecated soon.
PGPKEY Stored in the auth attribute as a signature identity pointing to a public key certificate. The public key certificate is stored in a separate key-cert object. To authenticate changes to objects protected by maintainers using this method, the submission must be signed by the corresponding private key.

Advantages of this method:

  • This is the strongest auth method currently available in the APNIC Whois Database

Disadvantages of this method include:

To update your authentication method to PGPKEY, see:

PGP authentication and mntner objects

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