The Domain Name System (DNS) is the phonebook of the Internet. Humans access information online through domain names e.g., www.Kenic.or.ke. DNS translates domain names to IP addresses so browsers can load Internet resources. DNS is relevant because it addresses a critical security vulnerability in the DNS infrastructure.
DNSSEC provides a way of authenticating the DNS response data. Before one tries to connect to a website, your browser has to retrieve the IP address of the site using the DNS. However, it is possible for an attacker to impose your website enquiry and provide false information that would cause your browser to connect to a fake website where you could potentially provide personal information.eg a fake bank website. By digitally signing DNS records, DNSSEC ensures that the responses received from DNS servers are authentic and have not been tampered with during transmission.
In order for the Internet to have widespread of security, DNSSEC needs to be widely set-up. DNSSEC is important for any user as it protect us from getting bad data from signed zones by detecting the attack and preventing the user from receiving corrupted information. In this write-up, we shall look into the relevance of having DNSSEC.
- Data Integrity: When a user asks the resolver for DNS information that comes from zones that are signed, and that data has been tampered with, the user will (purposely) get no data back. DNSSEC protects the user from getting bad data from a signed zone by detecting the attack and preventing the user from receiving the tampered data. It guarantees that the DNS information received by users is accurate and has not been altered by malicious actors.
- Authentication: DNSSEC prefers using digital signatures to verify the type of information they receive. There are millions of zones that sign their DNS information so that users of validating resolvers can be assured of getting good data. This results to prevents attackers from impersonating legitimate websites or DNS servers.
- Internet Infrastructure Security: DNSSEC is used to strengthen the security of the Internet infrastructure. By protecting the DNS, it safeguards the foundations of online communication, e-commerce, email delivery, and other internet-based services.
In summary, DNSSEC forms a fundamental part of widespread Internet security if it is widely adapted. For this to be possible, it needs to be enabled by a domain name owner.
Organizations should also recognize the importance of securing DNS operations to maintain a safer and more trustworthy internet environment.