- DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phonebook of the internet.
- It translates domain names (like
google.com) into IP addresses (like142.250.183.14) so computers can communicate with each other. - Without DNS, you would have to remember long strings of numbers instead of easy names.
Why is DNS a Target for Hackers?
Hackers love targeting DNS because it is a critical part of the internet’s infrastructure. If they compromise it, they can control or disrupt how users reach websites.
Here’s why it’s attractive to attackers:
- High Impact, Low Visibility
- DNS is behind almost every online service. If DNS is tampered with, hackers can affect millions of users without them realizing it.
- DNS Hijacking / Spoofing
- Hackers can redirect users from a legitimate website to a fake one (for phishing, malware, or credential theft).
- Example: You type
bank.com, but the hacker-controlled DNS sends you to a fake site that looks the same.
- Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks
- By overwhelming DNS servers with traffic, hackers can make entire websites or services unreachable.
- Example: The Dyn DNS attack (2016) took down Twitter, Netflix, Reddit, and many others.
- Data Exfiltration via DNS Tunneling
- Hackers can secretly steal data by encoding it in DNS queries, bypassing firewalls since DNS traffic is often trusted.
- Exploiting Weak Configurations
- Many organizations don’t secure their DNS properly, making it a weak point to exploit.
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