USC's ISI runs global B-Root system handling internet traffic
Updated
Updated · Bay News 9 · May 4
USC's ISI runs global B-Root system handling internet traffic
2 articles · Updated · Bay News 9 · May 4
Based in Marina del Rey, the Southern California hub processes about eight billion DNS queries a day, helping devices locate servers for sites such as Google and YouTube.
Officials said B-Root is one of 13 such systems worldwide and directs requests to top-level domains, forming part of the internet infrastructure that supports connectivity and security.
USC's ISI also traces DNS to Paul Mockapetris's 1983 work there, while researchers continue developing cyber defences as the FBI says cybercrime cost about $10tn in 2025.
The internet's 'master directory' runs on a 1980s design. Is this foundation strong enough for today's AI-powered cyberattacks?
As cybercrime becomes a $10.5 trillion economy, can one institute's innovations truly safeguard our digital world from advanced AI threats?
With AI now finding security flaws faster than humans, are we heading for a safer internet or a permanent cyber arms race?
Scaling and Securing B-Root: Innovations Behind the Internet’s Critical DNS Infrastructure
Overview
In 2024-2025, the DNS root servers, especially B-Root operated by USC ISI, faced a sharp rise in massive cyberattacks, including record-breaking DDoS floods driven by Mirai botnets exploiting insecure IoT devices. Attackers refined techniques like spoofing and cache poisoning, targeting the fixed IP addresses of root servers. To defend against these threats, B-Root expanded its global anycast network and deployed advanced real-time traffic filtering, ensuring resilience and service continuity. This defense builds on decades of USC ISI’s academic research, including pioneering encrypted DNS protocols and ongoing studies that improve filtering and security. The diverse, coordinated root server ecosystem further strengthens global internet stability against evolving attacks.