If you are browsing for what DNSSEC is and how it works, you came to the right place. In this article, we will focus on its primary purpose and its benefits. So, let’s explain it.
What does DNSSEC mean?
DNSSEC is a collection of protocols and specifications for securing the Domain Name System and its associated activities. From lookups to data transmission, it’s all here.
Authenticated denial of existence, cryptographic authentication of DNS information, and information integrity are all provided by these enhancements to DNS resolvers.
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) invented it. Because the Domain Name System was not designed with security in mind from the start. Different vulnerabilities were discovered early on in its utilization. After that, DNSSEC was created. The creators picked the extension format for this system to make it easier to integrate with the existing DNS infrastructure.
How does it operate?
DNSSEC is a trust chain that secures each step of the way from the root level down.
The key for the level below the root is TLD. The TLD of the domain name and the TLD of the subdomain.
Each zone is signed with a private key that is decrypted using a public key using cryptography. The secret key should not be shared, and the public key will be stored in DNS records in the zone to allow it to be unlocked.
When a recursive DNS server requests DNS data, it will also receive the public key. It will use it to verify the information and unlock DNS records. The user will receive an error notification if it is unable to do so for some reason.
Why is DNSSEC advantageous?
DNSSEC’s most basic protection is that it prevents third parties from fabricating records. It also protects the domain’s integrity by prohibiting:
- False zones: DNSSEC can help protect against malicious DNS attacks that take advantage of the DNS system and provide fake zone results. Attackers profit from gaps between zones, which may or may not exist. DNSSEC protects the entire zone by providing techniques to avoid gap usage. This is also known as the verified denial of existence.
- DNS spoofing (DNS Cache Poisoning): This is a type of man-in-the-middle attack. A DNS resolver is flooded with bogus DNS data by criminals. In some situations, these attacks can scale up to a massive scale, causing a fake end result to be stored in the DNS resolver’s cache. As a result, every user who requests that specific website receives this malicious and fraudulent web address (URL) from the DNS resolver. This goes on until the TTL (Time-to-Live) runs out.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that DNSSEC could be absolutely advantageous for you and your business. DNSSEC provides critical DNS security features. In addition, it protects you from harmful cyber dangers! So, it’s worth giving it a try.