DNSCrypt Guide: How It Helps in Encrypting DNS Communications?

Since the Internet threats are growing at a rapid rate, the DNS or Domain Name System is threatened by numerous flaws that might result in serious cyber crimes. DNS acts as a designated controller of Internet domain names and IP addresses that may create trouble once got compromised. It is agreeable that ensuring complete DNS security isn’t an easy task, but users can take some preventive measures to avoid such heinous crimes. 

The Internet is a broad platform and many infections, malware authors, identity thieves and other security related issues are readily available to cause physical, virtual, and financial damages. The safest way to ensure full DNS protection is by encrypting the way Internet-connected computers talk to DNS servers.

Read the blog to understand how DNSCrypt helps in ensuring encrypted web browsing and keeping virtual threats at bay.

What If the DNS Queries are Not Encrypted?

Sometimes, users may act carelessly and continue to browse the web without giving a second thought to secure DNS servers. Since the entire Internet communication operates through the DNS layers and servers, one should avail DNS protection to avoid some of the major threats listed below: 

•          Spying: Online hackers and attackers can use easy to track DNS queries for spying users' online activities and operations. Online hackers can gain access to your online accounts via DNS reply, observation recordings, and timing attacks.

•          Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: These are the virtual attacks that take place when an attacker interferes in the communication stream and takes off the control of both the local and remote stations.

•          Resolver Impersonation: Malware authors, online hackers, and other intermediaries hijack the DNS traffic predestined for trusted DNS servers and reroutes them to malicious servers. The redirecting will lead to serious cyber crimes and may result in providing fraudulent query responses.

In simple words, when you type a website name in the URL field of a browser, it takes you to the appropriate website. But if someone is controlling or interfering with the DNS query than that may not be the case and you will get redirected to a fake or rogue website. For example, if you wish to visit your bank's website, you may be sent to an actual looking fake website that may steal your banking credentials.

Does DNSCrypt Help in Encrypting DNS Communications?

 

OpenDNS, an independent DNS resolution service, offers various solutions that help in URL misspelling correction, phishing protection, and content filtering. The company also has a possible solution to prevent DNS-query hijacking. The tool ensures an encrypted web browsing experience by following the same means that SSL uses to turn HTTP web traffic into HTTPS encrypted web traffic. The tool specially offers protection against eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks by turning the regular DNS traffic into encrypted DNS traffic. The tool runs in the background silently and securely encrypts communications between Internet users and DNS servers in the OpenDNS data centers. 

Following are some of the capabilities of the tool that can offer full DNS protection when the software gets installed on your system:

•        Encrypts even the ‘last mile’ of the connections to avoid the last attacks and privacy violations

•        Enhances the privacy and user security layer while accessing unsecured wireless networks and highly vulnerable areas

•        Green, Yellow, and Red colored icons to indicate complete installation, only OpenDNS is in use, and neither OpenDNS nor DNSCrypt are being used

•        Easy-to-use interface as it gets enabled whenever you click the menu icon, open the ‘DNSCrypt Preferences’ panel and check the ‘Enable DNSCrypt’ button

•        Available in both Mac and Windows versions.

Conclusion

It is highly important to secure DNS servers in order to ensure complete safety of the entire digital existence. Tech experts state that availing DNS protection can be challenging, but the tool offers basic security features to ensure optimal safety and privacy online. It is better to perform your Internet activities using the encrypted web browsing environment as malware authors, and online hackers may turn a pleasurable online experience into a disastrous one.