View source for .su

{{Short description|Internet country-code top level domain for the Soviet Union}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox top level domain
| name = .su
| image = DotSU domain logo.svg
| introduced = 19 September 1990
| type = [[Country code top-level domain]]
| status = Active
| registry = [[Russian Institute for Public Networks]] (РосНИИРОС)
| sponsor = [[Russian Institute for Public Networks]] (РосНИИРОС)
| intendeduse = Entities connected with the [[Soviet Union]]
| actualuse = Mostly used by entities connected with [[post-Soviet states]] and websites about the [[su (Unix)|su]] shell command.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}
| restrictions = Passport required
| registereddomains = 111,695
| dateregistereddomains = 3 February 2025
| refregistereddomains = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Общее число доменов {{!}} Домены России|url=https://statdom.ru/tld/su/report/domainscount/|access-date=21 July 2020|website=statdom.ru}}</ref>
| structure = Registrations are permitted directly at the second level
| document = [http://www.fid.su/su/documents/ Documents]
| disputepolicy = None
| website = {{URL|https://ripn.su/en/}}
| dnssec = yes
| image_size=150px
}}

'''.su''' is an [[Internet]] [[country code top-level domain]] (ccTLD) that was designated for the [[Soviet Union]] on 19 September 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/su.html|title=IANA — .su Domain Delegation Data|website=iana.org|access-date=12 September 2019}}</ref> Even though the Soviet Union itself was [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|dissolved]] 15 months later, the .su top-level domain remains in use to the present day. It is administered by the [[Russian Institute for Public Networks]] (RIPN, or RosNIIROS in Russian transcription).<ref name=":6" />

The .su ccTLD is known for usage by [[Cybercrime|cybercriminals]], [[Hacker|hackers]], and [[Scam|scammers]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Neel V. |title=The Bizarre Afterlife of .su, the Domain Name and Last Bastion of the USSR |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/8672-the-bizarre-afterlife-of-su-the-domain-name-and-last-bastion-of-the-ussr |access-date=2022-08-21 |website=Inverse |date=December 2015 |language=en |quote=the .su domain has attracted a lot of attention from cybercriminals looking for a safe haven to conduct operations}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

== History ==
After 1989 a set of new internet domains was created in Europe, including [[.pl]] ([[Poland]]), [[.cs]] ([[Czechoslovakia]]), [[.yu]] ([[Yugoslavia]]) and [[.dd]] ([[East Germany]]). Among them, there was also a domain for the USSR – .su.<ref name="rosyjski">{{cite web|url=http://rosyjski.bukwa.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=492&Itemid=78|title=Domena internetowa SU|author=Marcin Kryska|language=pl|accessdate=11 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102193837/http://rosyjski.bukwa.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=492&Itemid=78|archive-date=2 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Initially, before two-letter ccTLDs became standard, the Soviet Union was to receive a .ussr domain. The .su domain was proposed by the 19-year-old Finnish student Petri Ojala.<ref name="netoscop">{{cite web|url=http://netoscope.narod.ru/news/2000/09/19/312.html|script-title=ru:Юбилей Рунета: 10 лет назад финн Петри Ойала зарегистрировал домен .su|language=ru|accessdate=12 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191207/http://netoscope.narod.ru/news/2000/09/19/312.html|archive-date=2 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 26 December 1991 the country [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|was dissolved]] and its constituent republics gained independence, which should have caused the domain to begin a phase-out process, as happened with those of East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. Until 1994<ref name="rosyjski" /> there was no assigned top-level domain name for Russia. For this reason the country continued to use the Soviet domain. In 1994, the [[.ru]] domain was created, which was supposed to eventually replace the .su domain<ref name="rosyjski" /> (domains for the republics other than Russia were created at different times in the mid-nineties). The domain was supposed to be withdrawn by [[ICANN]], but it was kept at the request of the Russian government and Internet users.<ref name="rosyjski" />

In 2001, the managers of the domain stated that they would commence accepting new .su registrations, but it is unclear whether this action was compatible with ICANN policies.<ref name=":4">[https://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2008-04-18-196687842_x.htm Back in the USSR: Soviet Internet domain name resists death], Mansur Mirovalev, writing for [[Associated Press]], 18 April 2008</ref> In September 2007, lobbyists stated that they had started negotiations with ICANN on retaining the domain.<ref name=":5">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSL1986480720070919 |title=USSR still alive on Internet and won't go quietly |accessdate=5 December 2007 |last=Kilner |first=James |date=19 September 2007 |website=Reuters |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071213152504/https://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSL1986480720070919| archive-date= 13 December 2007 <!--Added by DASHBot-->}}</ref> In March 2025, ICANN reportedly notified<ref name="domainwire032025">{{cite news |url=https://domainnamewire.com/2025/03/11/icann-moves-to-retire-soviet-era-su-country-domain-name/ |title=ICANN moves to retire Soviet-era .SU country domain name |accessdate=20 March 2025 |last=Allemann |first=Andrew |date=11 March 2025 |website=Domain Name Wire}}</ref> the operator of the domain, the Russian Institute for Development of Public Networks (ROSNIIROS),<ref name=":6">[https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/su.html .su Domain Delegation Data] IANA</ref> of a planned phase-out of the domain by 2030.

As of March 2025, the .su ccTLD contained over 112,000 domains.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://statdom.ru/tld/su/report/summary/ |title=Домены России
 |accessdate=20 March 2025 |website=Domain Name Wire}}</ref>

== Usage ==
The domain was intended to be used by Soviet institutions and companies operating in the USSR. The dissolution of the Soviet Union meant that the new TLD was superseded by the new [[country TLDs]] of the [[former Soviet republics]]. Despite this, .su is still in use. Most of the .su domains are registered in Russia and the [[United States]].<ref name="gazeta">{{cite web|url=http://gospodarka.gazeta.pl/gospodarka/1,33181,4509424.html|title=Domena .su wciąż używana, chociaż ZSRR już nie ma|date=21 September 2007 |language=pl|accessdate=12 January 2010}}</ref> According to data from May 2025, there were over 111,500 registered domains with the .su TLD (there are over 5.895 million .ru domains).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tendence.ru/articles/kak-sozdat-korporativnuyu-elektronnuyu-pochtu-dlya-biznesa-so-svoim-domenom#domain |title=Домены — статистика регистраций |access-date=2025-05-03 }}</ref> Some organizations with roots in the former Soviet Union also still use this TLD.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.gizmodo.com/tons-of-hackers-are-hanging-out-in-old-soviet-cyberspac-510829003|work=Gizmodo|title=Tons of Hackers are Hanging out in old Soviet Cyberspace|date=June 2013 }}</ref> The pro-Russian Ukrainian separatist group [[Donetsk People's Republic]] have also registered their domain with the TLD.<ref>{{cite web|title=Donetsk People's Republic 'Government' Portal|url=https://dnronline.su/|access-date=30 December 2019|archive-date=18 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418084609/https://dnronline.su/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The .su domain also hosts white supremacist websites that have been [[Deplatforming|deplatformed]] elsewhere, formerly including ''[[The Daily Stormer]]''.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Ryan|first=Fergus|title=Why Are Moscow and Beijing Happy to Host the U.S. Far-Right Online?|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/01/22/russia-beijing-web-host-far-right-parler-daily-stormer/|access-date=16 June 2021|website=Foreign Policy|language=en-US}}</ref> 

The domain has been reported to host many [[cybercrime]] activities<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moscow |first=Associated Press in |date=2013-05-31 |title=Hack in the USSR: cybercriminals find haven in .su domain space |url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/may/31/ussr-cybercriminals-su-domain-space |access-date=2022-08-21 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> due to the relaxed and outdated terms of use, along with staying out of focus (2% usage comparing to the primary .ru zone).<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=Old Soviet Union domain name attracts cybercriminal interest|url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/old-soviet-union-domain-name-attracts-cybercriminal-interest/|access-date=31 August 2015|date=31 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="group-ib.com">{{cite web|title=Group-IB and Foundation for Internet Development sign an agreement to combat cyber threats in the .SU domain zone|url=http://www.group-ib.com/index.php/7-novosti/831-group-ib-and-foundation-for-internet-development-sign-an-agreement-to-combat-cyber-threats-in-the-su-domain-zone|access-date=26 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113132104/http://www.group-ib.com/index.php/7-novosti/831-group-ib-and-foundation-for-internet-development-sign-an-agreement-to-combat-cyber-threats-in-the-su-domain-zone|archive-date=13 January 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rules for timely suspension of malicious domains<ref name="group-ib.com"/> have been in place since 2013 in response to the issue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://info.nic.ru/node/4491|title=Генеральная уборка в домене SU |website=info.info.nic.ru}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Soviet Union|Internet}}
* {{annotated link|.рф}}
* {{annotated link|.ru}}
* {{annotated link|Runet}}
* {{annotated link|Technical Center of Internet}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commonscatinline}}
* <!--[https://web.archive.org/web/20100330143054/http://stat.nic.ru/-->[https://statdom.ru/tld/su/report/domainscount/ Statistics of registrations under the .su domain]
* [http://www.ripn.net/press/en/2008/itar-tass-SU-sum.html RIPN press release regarding future of .su domain] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124133556/http://www.ripn.net/press/en/2008/itar-tass-SU-sum.html |date=24 January 2020 }}

{{ccTLD}}
{{Soviet Union topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Su}}
[[Category:Computing in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Country code top-level domains]]
[[Category:Internet in Russia]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Communications in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1990]]

[[sv:Toppdomän#S]]