Secure Gateway to a Safer Internet: DNS Over HTTPS (DoH)

Understanding DNS: The Internet's Address Book

Before diving into DoH, let's briefly understand the Domain Name System (DNS). DNS is like the internet's address book. When you type a web address into your browser, such as "www.example.com", the DNS system translates that human-readable domain name into an IP address, which is the actual location of the website on the internet. DNS plays a fundamental role in how we access websites and online services.

The Need for a More Secure DNS

Traditionally, DNS queries and responses have been transmitted in plaintext, leaving them vulnerable to interception and manipulation by malicious actors. This lack of encryption made DNS susceptible to various threats, including:

• Eavesdropping: Hackers could intercept DNS requests and gather information about your internet activity.
• DNS spoofing: Attackers could manipulate DNS responses to redirect you to malicious websites or intercept your communication.
• Censorship: Governments or ISPs could block access to specific websites by manipulating DNS responses.

Enter DNS Over HTTPS (DoH)

DNS over HTTPS is a protocol that adds a layer of encryption to DNS queries and responses. Instead of sending DNS requests in plaintext, DoH encrypts them within an HTTPS connection, similar to the way your browser communicates with secure websites.

Here's how DoH works:

• DNS Query: When you type a web address into your browser, it generates a DNS query to resolve the domain name into an IP address.
• DoH Request: Instead of sending this query in plaintext, your browser sends it as an encrypted request over an HTTPS connection to a DNS server that supports DoH.
• Encrypted Response: The DNS server processes the request and sends back an encrypted response, which your browser decrypts and uses to connect to the intended website.

Benefits of DNS Over HTTPS (DoH)

• Enhanced Privacy: DoH encrypts your DNS queries, preventing ISPs, governments, or malicious actors from monitoring your internet activity and tracking the websites you visit.
• Security: By encrypting DNS traffic, DoH mitigates the risks associated with DNS spoofing and other DNS-related attacks, ensuring that the websites you visit are legitimate.
• Resilience: DoH can provide a more reliable DNS resolution process, especially in situations where traditional DNS might be blocked or tampered with, as it can use alternate DNS servers.
• Improved Speed: Some DoH implementations can speed up DNS resolution by reducing latency, enhancing the overall browsing experience.

How to Enable DNS Over HTTPS

• Download Cibera VPN Client and Connect to any Server: DoH encrypts your DNS queries, preventing ISPs, governments, or malicious actors from monitoring your internet activity and tracking the websites you visit.