Patent ID: 8489637

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for managing access to a Domain Name Service (DNS) database, the method comprising: receiving a DNS request message originated from client software by a user operating a client computer, the client software comprising one or more software utilities running on the client computer, the DNS request message comprising a request and unencrypted identification information specific to the user; determining if the user is authorized to access the DNS database in dependence upon client address information and the user specific identification information contained in the DNS request message, the determining if the user is authorized to access the DNS database further comprising performing a lookup of the domain name on an access control list, the access control list comprising a listing associating a plurality of domain names with at least one client address and user specific identification information pairing, each pairing representing a combination of a client address information and user specific identification information that is allowed to access to the associated domain name; and executing the request in response to determining the user is authorized, the user specific identification information comprises at least one of a user identifier and a privilege identifier.