Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for establishing a secure communication link between a first client and a second client. One exemplary computer-implemented method for establishing a secure communication link between a first diem and a second client includes accessing, from a storage, identification information of a user of the first client. The method further includes receiving a Domain Name Service (DNS) request from the first client requesting a secure network address corresponding to a secure domain name associated with the second client. The method further includes authenticating the user based on the user identification information. The method also includes transmitting the secure computer network address in response to the DNS request based on a determination that the user has been authenticated. A secure communication link between the first diem and the second client is established based on the secure computer network address.

Abstract: Methods and related systems are presented that relate to automatically avoiding address conflicts when establishing a secure communications link over a public network between a local computer, associated with a local network, and a remote device, located outside the local network. Local network addresses on the local network reserved for use, and a block of local network addresses that do not conflict with the reserved local network addresses, are identified. At least one local network address is selected from the block and assigned as an address of the local device for use in communicating with the remote device securely over the public network. Communication is facilitated with the remote device using the network driver based on the assigned at least one local network address.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for establishing a secure communication link between a first client and a second client. One exemplary computer-implemented method for establishing a secure communication link between a first diem and a second client includes accessing, from a storage, identification information of a user of the first client. The method further includes receiving a Domain Name Service (DNS) request from the first client requesting a secure network address corresponding to a secure domain name associated with the second client. The method further includes authenticating the user based on the user identification information. The method also includes transmitting the secure computer network address in response to the DNS request based on a determination that the user has been authenticated. A secure communication link between the first diem and the second client is established based on the secure computer network address.

Abstract: Methods and related systems are presented that relate to automatically avoiding address conflicts when establishing a secure communications link over a public network between a local computer, associated with a local network, and a remote device, located outside the local network. Local network addresses on the local network reserved for use, and a block of local network addresses that do not conflict with the reserved local network addresses, are identified. At least one local network address is selected from the block and assigned as an address of the local device for use in communicating with the remote device securely over the public network. Communication is facilitated with the remote device using the network driver based on the assigned at least one local network address.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for establishing a secure communication link between a first client and a second client. One exemplary computer-implemented method for establishing a secure communication link between a first client and a second client includes accessing, from a storage, identification information of a user of the first client. The method further includes receiving a Domain Name Service (DNS) request from the first client requesting a secure network address corresponding to a secure domain name associated with the second client. The method further includes authenticating the user based on the user identification information. The method also includes transmitting the secure computer network address in response to the DNS request based on a determination that the user has been authenticated. A secure communication link between the first client and the second client is established based on the secure computer network address.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for establishing a secure communication link between a first client and a second client. One exemplary computer-implemented method for establishing a secure communication link between a first client and a second client includes accessing, from a storage, identification information of a user of the first client. The method further includes receiving a Domain Name Service (DNS) request from the first client requesting a secure network address corresponding to a secure domain name associated with the second client. The method further includes authenticating the user based on the user identification information. The method also includes transmitting the secure computer network address in response to the DNS request based on a determination that the user has been authenticated. A secure communication link between the first client and the second client is established based on the secure computer network address.

Abstract: A virtual private network (VPN) over a telecommunications network is created by sending a request from a first VPN device to a second VPN device for establishing a VPN between the first and second VPN devices. The request includes a first signed certificate having a verified VPN parameter for the first VPN device. A reply is received at the first VPN device from the second VPN device that includes a second signed certificate having a verified VPN parameter for the second VPN device. The VPN is established between the first and second VPN devices based on each verified VPN parameter for each of the first and second VPN devices.

Abstract: Methods and related systems are presented that relate to automatically avoiding address conflicts when establishing a secure communications link over a public network between a local computer, associated with a local network, and a remote device, located outside the local network. Local network addresses on the local network reserved for use, and a block of local network addresses that do not conflict with the reserved local network addresses, are identified. At least one local network address is selected from the block and assigned as an address of the local device for use in communicating with the remote device securely over the public network. Communication is facilitated with the remote device using the network driver based on the assigned at least one local network address.

Abstract: Methods and related systems are presented that relate to automatically avoiding address conflicts when establishing a secure communications link over a public network between a local computer, associated with a local network, and a remote device, located outside the local network. Local network addresses on the local network reserved for use, and a block of local network addresses that do not conflict with the reserved local network addresses, are identified. At least one local network address is selected from the block and assigned as an address of the local device for use in communicating with the remote device securely over the public network. Communication is facilitated with the remote device using the network driver based on the assigned at least one local network address.

Abstract: A network device comprises a storage device storing an application program for a secure communications service, and at least one processor configured to execute the application program for the secure communications service so as to enable the network device to send a request to look up a network address of a second device based on an identifier associated with the second device, receive an indication that the second device is available for the secure communications service, the indication including the requested network address and provisioning information for a secure communication link, connect to the second device over the secure communication link, using the received network address of the second device and the provisioning information for the secure communication link, and communicate at least one of video data and audio data with the second device using the secure communications service via the secure communication link.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for establishing a secure communication link between a first client and a second client. One exemplary computer-implemented method for establishing a secure communication link between a first client and a second client includes accessing, from a storage, identification information of a user of the first client. The method further includes receiving a Domain Name Service (DNS) request from the first client requesting a secure network address corresponding to a secure domain name associated with the second client. The method further includes authenticating the user based on the user identification information. The method also includes transmitting the secure computer network address in response to the DNS request based on a determination that the user has been authenticated. A secure communication link between the first client and the second client is established based on the secure computer network address.

Abstract: A method performed by a first network device for communicating over a network, the method includes receiving, at the first network device, a request to connect to a second network device. The method includes, based on the request to connect, determining whether the first network device is set to an encrypted communication mode. The method further includes, based on a determination that the first network device is set to the encrypted communication mode, sending, to a first name service, a first name associated with the second network device and for which the first name service supports establishing an encrypted connection to the second network device.

Abstract: A secure domain name service for a computer network is disclosed that includes a portal connected to a computer network, such as the Internet, and a domain name database connected to the computer network through the portal. The portal authenticates a query for a secure computer network address, and the domain name database stores secure computer network addresses for the computer network. Each secure computer network address is based on a non-standard top-level domain name, such as .scom, .sorg, .snet, .snet, .sedu, .smil and .sint.

Abstract: A virtual private network (VPN) over a telecommunications network is created by sending a request from a first VPN device to a second VPN device for establishing a VPN between the first and second VPN devices. The request includes a first signed certificate having a verified VPN parameter for the first VPN device. A reply is received at the first VPN device from the second VPN device that includes a second signed certificate having a verified VPN parameter for the second VPN device. The VPN is established between the first and second VPN devices based on each verified VPN parameter for each of the first and second VPN devices.

Abstract: A system and method for video conferencing over a secure communication link is disclosed. In various implementations, the system is configured connect to a communication network, store a plurality of network addresses of devices of registered users, each device of a registered user having an application program for conducting video conferencing between, the client device and the target device, and establish a secure communication link between the client device and the target device. The secure communication link is established in response to a query (a) generated by the client device and (b) including an identifier associated with a network address of the target device, the establishment of the secure communication link being based on a determination that the target device can accept a secure communication link connection with the client device. Video conferencing is conducted over the secure communication link connection between the client device and the target device.

Abstract: A system for connecting a first network device and a second network device includes one or more servers. The servers are configured to: (a) receive, from the first network device, a request to look up a network address of the second network device based on an identifier associated with the second network device; (b) determine, in response to the request, whether the second network device is available for a secure communications service; and (c) initiate a virtual private network communication link between the first network device and the second network device based on a determination that the second network device is available for the secure communications service, wherein the secure communications service uses the virtual private network communication link.

Abstract: A virtual private network (VPN) over a telecommunications network is created by sending a request from a first VPN device to a second VPN device for establishing a VPN between the first and second VPN devices. The request includes a first signed certificate having a verified VPN parameter for the first VPN device. A reply is received at the first VPN device from the second VPN device that includes a second signed certificate having a verified VPN parameter for the second VPN device. The VPN is established between the first and second VPN devices based on each verified VPN parameter for each of the first and second VPN devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes generating a Domain Name Service (DNS) request comprising a domain name, determining that the DNS request corresponds to a first computer configured to communicate securely, and sending, based on the determination, a request to establish a communication link with the first computer configured to communicate securely, the request including an identifier of a client device used to determine whether the client device is authorized to communicate with the first computer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for establishing an encrypted communication link between a first device and a second device. One exemplary computer-implemented method includes accessing, from a storage, identification information of a user of the first device. The method further includes receiving, at a domain name server, a Domain Name Service (DNS) request from the first device requesting a network address corresponding to a domain name associated with the second device, the domain name being used to establish the encrypted communication link to the second device. The method further includes authenticating the user based on the user identification information, the user identification information including biometric information of the user. The method also includes transmitting network address in response to the DNS request based on a determination that the user has been authenticated at the domain name server using the biometric information of the user.

Abstract: A network device comprises a storage device storing an application program for a secure communications service, and at least one processor configured to execute the application program for the secure communications service so as to enable the network device to send a request to look up a network address of a second device based on an identifier associated with the second device, receive an indication that the second device is available for the secure communications service, the indication including the requested network address and provisioning information for a secure communication link, connect to the second device over the secure communication link, using the received network address of the second device and the provisioning information for the secure communication link, and communicate at least one of video data and audio data with the second device using the secure communications service via the secure communication link.