What is DNS?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is like a phonebook for the internet. It translates easy-to-remember domain names, like example.com, into IP addresses, which computers use to find websites. While DNS is essential for browsing the web, traditional DNS requests are unencrypted, making them vulnerable to spying and manipulation.

What is DNS Over HTTPS (DoH)?

DNS Over HTTPS (DoH) is a protocol designed to improve privacy and security. It encrypts DNS requests by sending them through HTTPS (the secure version of HTTP). This prevents third parties, like ISPs or attackers, from seeing or tampering with your DNS queries.

How Does DoH Work?

In traditional DNS, queries are sent in plain text, meaning anyone monitoring your network can see the websites you’re trying to visit.

With DNS Over HTTPS:

  1. Your browser sends DNS queries over an encrypted HTTPS connection.
  2. The DNS server processes the request and returns the correct IP address.
  3. The entire process is secure, meaning your DNS traffic is hidden from prying eyes.

Why is DoH Important?

1. Privacy

Without DoH, anyone (your ISP, a hacker on public Wi-Fi, etc.) can see the websites you visit. DoH hides your DNS queries inside encrypted web traffic, making it much harder for others to monitor your browsing habits.

2. Security

Traditional DNS can be vulnerable to DNS Spoofing or Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks. DoH helps protect against these attacks by encrypting your DNS queries, ensuring they reach the intended server without interference.

3. Avoiding Censorship

Some governments or organizations block access to certain websites by manipulating DNS responses. DoH can help bypass this censorship by sending DNS queries through encrypted channels that are harder to intercept or block.

Benefits of DoH

  • Enhanced Privacy: Your browsing activity is hidden from ISPs, network administrators, and other snoopers.
  • Security Against Attacks: DoH prevents attackers from hijacking your DNS queries and redirecting you to malicious sites.
  • Bypass Filtering: It helps evade DNS-based content restrictions that certain networks or governments impose.

Potential Downsides of DoH

While DoH brings numerous benefits, there are a few things to consider:

1. Performance

Because DoH involves encryption, it can be slightly slower than traditional DNS requests. However, the performance difference is usually minimal for most users.

2. Over-centralization

Many DoH services are provided by a few major companies like Google and Cloudflare. This can lead to concerns about a small number of organizations controlling too much of the internet’s traffic.

3. Compatibility Issues

Not all DNS servers and network systems support DoH yet. In some cases, enabling DoH may cause issues with local networks that rely on traditional DNS filtering.

How to Enable DoH

Enabling DNS Over HTTPS is simple and supported by most modern web browsers:

In Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Scroll to Network Settings and click on Settings.
  3. Under Enable DNS over HTTPS, check the box and choose a provider (e.g., Cloudflare).

In Google Chrome:

  1. Go to Settings > Privacy and Security.
  2. Scroll to Advanced and find the Use secure DNS option.
  3. Enable it and choose a DNS provider.

DoH vs. Traditional DNS

FeatureTraditional DNSDNS Over HTTPS (DoH)
EncryptionNoYes
Protection Against AttacksLimitedStrong protection
Bypass CensorshipEasily BlockedHarder to Block

Conclusion

DNS Over HTTPS (DoH) represents a big leap forward in terms of online privacy and security. By encrypting DNS queries, it ensures that your browsing habits stay private and are protected from attackers. However, users should be aware of the potential trade-offs, like performance and over-reliance on large DNS providers.

Want to know more about online security? Check out our other blogs on internet privacy and cybersecurity tips!