7 Things You Should Know About DNSSEC

Published:
Briefs, Case Studies, Papers, Reports
Author(s) and Contributors:
Source(s) and Collection(s):
Sources(s): EDUCAUSE Publications Collection(s): EDUCAUSE 7 Things You Should Know
ParentTopics:
Cybersecurity DNSSEC Intrusion Detection and Prevention Network Security

Abstract

The Domain Name System (DNS) uses a distributed network of name servers to translate text-based web addresses into IP addresses, directing Internet traffic to proper servers. DNS was built without security, however, leaving Internet traffic exposed to forged DNS data, which leaves websites vulnerable to a range of attacks. DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) adds security provisions to DNS so that computers can verify that they have been directed to proper servers, avoiding many of the most dangerous DNS attacks. In this way, DNSSEC has the potential to significantly expand the trustworthiness—and thus the usefulness—of the Internet as a whole.

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