Alias Token DNS Queries

How Yoursafe ID integrates with DNS

Yoursafe ID enables businesses to link YOU account holders to their platforms without needing to know the individual's true identity, while still ensuring the natural person's identity has been verified by Yoursafe. Regular checks, including daily sanction and PEP screenings, are conducted to maintain the integrity of the customer base. Customers may also leave the service, and businesses need to be aware of any changes to account status.

The DNS querying method provided by Yoursafe offers a way for businesses to check the status and compliance of YOU accounts without revealing personal attributes of the Yoursafe YOU account holder. This integration ensures platforms can meet compliance requirements while preserving user privacy.

Overview of DNS

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a fundamental protocol of the internet that translates human-readable domain names (e.g., www.example.com) into machine-readable IP addresses (e.g., 192.0.2.1). This system enables users to access websites and other internet resources using recognizable names rather than numeric IP addresses. DNS operates as a distributed database, with various record types storing different pieces of information related to domain names.

DNS TXT Records

DNS TXT records are text-based records that can store arbitrary data associated with a domain. These records are commonly used for verification purposes, such as domain ownership verification, email security (SPF, DKIM), and other custom implementations. In the context of Yoursafe ID, DNS TXT records provide non-personal information about Yoursafe users, which can be useful for verifying account statuses and attributes.

Structure of DNS TXT Records

A DNS TXT record consists of:

  • Name: The domain or subdomain for which the TXT record is valid.
  • TTL (Time To Live): The duration in seconds that the record is cached by DNS resolvers.
  • TXT Data: The actual text information stored in the record.

Modern Tools for DNS Queries

Several modern tools are available for making DNS queries. These tools help inspect DNS records, verify domain configurations, and diagnose issues. Common tools include:

  • dig: A command-line tool for DNS lookups.
  • nslookup: A command-line utility for basic DNS queries.
  • host: A simple DNS lookup tool.
  • Web-based DNS lookup tools: Various online platforms that offer web interfaces for DNS record checks.
  • PowerShell: Windows users can use the Resolve-DnsName cmdlet.
  • Python Libraries: Common Python libraries like dnspython and socket can be used for DNS queries.

Example Query Using dig:

To query the TXT records of accountstatus. <aliastoken>.yoursafe.id, you can use:

dig TXT accountstatus.<aliastoken>.yoursafe.id

This command will return the account status (e.g., <active> or <inactive>) of the given Yoursafe user.

Field Specifications for Alias Token DNS Queries

The Alias Token product for DNS utilizes a specific structure for its TXT records. The field specifications are as follows:

Field Descriptions

aliasserial

A serial associated with the account that changes when there is a significant modification to the account.

accountstatus

Indicates whether the account is active or inactive.

country

Specifies the country of residence of the Yoursafe YOU customer.

countrycode

The ISO-3166 country code for the customer's country of residence.

eighteenplus

A Boolean value indicating whether the customer is over 18. The value could be True or False

idverifieddate

The date of the last ID verification. Format YYYY-MM-DDTHH24:MM:SSZ

peplistdate

The timestamp of the last check against the PEP list. Format YYYY-MM-DDTHH24:MM:SSZ

sanctiondate

The timestamp of the last check against the sanction list. Format YYYY-MM-DDTHH24:MM:SSZ

uksanctionlists

Returns "Negative" if the customer is not listed on any known UK sanction lists.

unsanctionlists

Returns "Negative" if the customer is not listed on any known UN sanction lists.

ussanctionlists

Returns "Negative" if the customer is not listed on any known US sanction lists.

eusanctionlists

Returns "Negative" if the customer is not listed on any known EU sanction lists.

ibanserials

Serial numbers of IBANs associated with the Yoursafe YOU customer.

Yoursafe and OpenExample TXT Record

An example TXT record with the Alias Token structure for accountstatus. <aliastoken>.yoursafe.id could look like:

accountstatus.xyz123.yoursafe.id. 300 IN TXT "active"

This record provides the account status, ensuring that businesses querying the DNS can validate and interact with the provided token data.

Conclusion

DNS is an easy way to obtain YOU account statusinformation without needing to know the personal attributes of the YOU account holder. As DNS is a broadly used method to obtain data elements it can be easily integrated in any type of application.