The Dangers of DNS Spoofing: How to Stay Safe?

For those looking to safeguard their data and information, DNS spoofing is a potential threat to keep on top of. DNS spoofing involves exploiting the Domain Name System (DNS) vulnerabilities for malicious purposes. Keep reading to learn more about how it works and the best practices for staying safe from this attack.

Definition of DNS Spoofing

DNS Spoofing, or DNS cache poisoning, is a type of cyber attack in which a malicious actor targets the Domain Name System (DNS). This is done by exploiting vulnerabilities in how DNS queries get answered, allowing the hacker to change the website, email, or IP address information in the DNS translation table. This process enables the hacker to redirect users to illegitimate websites where sensitive credentials and data may be stolen. It can also redirect users away from legitimate websites, disrupting communications between the user, website, and server. The severity of the attack can vary, ranging from website defacement and the theft of sensitive data to denial-of-service and malware attacks. As such, it is vital to understand the basics of DNS spoofing and how to guard against it.

A record – Why is it important?

Just like the A is the first letter you learn from the alphabet, the A record will be the first DNS record you learn from the DNS. It is one of the first records that you create after creating a DNS zone, and it has a fundamental purpose. Do you want to know what it is?

What is the A record?

The A record is a DNS record that we can’t live without. Or at least the Internet won’t be possible the way we know it. 

The A comes from the word address, which in this case is an IPv4 address (32-bit address). The A record is a DNS record that point to the IP address of a domain name (hostname).

When you write a domain name into your address bar, the device will search for exactly this record, so you can access the content.

How to check your DNS A record?