Introduction

In today's digital world, we often hear about websites getting hacked, phishing scams, and WordPress security breaches. But there's one critical security risk that many website owners overlook: DNS security. Understanding how to secure DNS is crucial because hackers can manipulate your DNS settings without your knowledge, redirect traffic, or even steal your domain authority. Imagine you've had your domain registered with GoDaddy or another provider for years and now barely remember your login credentials—this could make you vulnerable to DNS hijacking.

A real-life example of this happened in 2018 when MyEtherWallet, a popular cryptocurrency wallet service, suffered a DNS hijacking attack. Hackers changed its DNS settings, redirecting users to a phishing site that stole their login credentials and drained their cryptocurrency wallets. This attack caused users to lose significant funds and damaged the company's reputation.

This guide will help you understand what DNS is, how to check if your DNS is compromised, and the essential steps to secure it.

What is DNS?

DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phonebook of the internet. It translates human-readable domain names (like example.com) into IP addresses that computers use to locate websites. Every time you visit a website, your browser queries a DNS server to fetch the correct IP address.

However, if hackers gain control of your DNS settings, they can redirect users to malicious sites, steal login credentials, or compromise your business’s online reputation. A notable example is the 2016 attack on Brazilian bank customers, where hackers modified the bank's DNS settings, redirecting users to a fraudulent banking portal that captured their credentials.

Diagram of the Domain Name System (DNS) resolution process, highlighting DNS security by showing how a user's computer queries a DNS resolver, which communicates with root, TLD, and authoritative nameservers to retrieve a secure IP address.
DNS Security: A visual guide to the DNS resolution process, showing how queries move through the resolver, root, TLD, and authoritative nameservers to ensure secure domain resolution.

That’s why securing your DNS is just as important as securing your website.

Is Your DNS Compromised? How to Check and Secure Your Domain.

Step-by-Step Guide to Checking and Securing Your DNS

1. Identify Your DNS Registrar

Your domain registrar is the company where you purchased your domain. To find out:

  • Visit: https://who.is/ and enter your domain name.
  • This will show details like:
    • Your domain registrar (GoDaddy, AWS, Namecheap, etc.)
    • Domain expiration date
    • Current nameservers
    • Contact information on file

2. Secure Your Registrar Account

Once you’ve identified your domain registrar:

  • Log into your registrar’s website.
  • Immediately update your password (use a strong, unique one!).
  • Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for extra security.

In 2021, the infamous Twitter account hacks, including those of Elon Musk and Barack Obama, were traced back to poor security settings on the domain registrar’s end, emphasizing the importance of strong passwords and MFA.

3. Enable DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions)

  • DNSSEC protects against DNS spoofing by adding cryptographic signatures to DNS records.
  • If your registrar supports DNSSEC, enable it right away.

For example, in 2020, a fake PayPal login page exploited weak DNS settings, tricking users into entering their credentials, which were then stolen. Enabling DNSSEC could have prevented such spoofing attempts.

4. Add Additional Domain Protections

  • Enable Domain Lock to prevent unauthorized domain transfers.
  • Use Domain Privacy Protection to hide your personal WHOIS information from the public.
  • Protect Against Web Scraping: Implement strategies to protect your website from scraping, ensuring your data remains secure.

5. Audit Your DNS Records

  • List all valid IP addresses associated with your domain and subdomains.
  • Document A records, CNAME records, and AAAA records for easy reference.
  • This helps you spot unauthorized changes.

6. Identify and Remove Suspicious Records

  • Look for unknown IP addresses or subdomains you didn’t create.
  • If you find anything suspicious, delete it immediately!

A great example of why this is important occurred in 2019 when attackers exploited weak DNS settings of a US government subdomain to launch phishing attacks impersonating official agencies.

7. Ongoing DNS Security Measures

  • Monitor DNS settings regularly for unauthorized changes.
  • Set quarterly reminders to review your domain security.
  • Consider DNS monitoring tools that send alerts if changes are detected.

Additionally, understanding how to manage DNS with Amazon AWS Route 53 can be beneficial for businesses using AWS services. Learn more about managing DNS with AWS Route 53.

Top 25 DNS Security and Monitoring Platforms

If you're looking for platforms to help monitor and secure your DNS, here are 25 top tools with real-time updates and advanced security features:

1. DNSFilter – Uses AI to detect and block malicious websites in real-time, helping prevent phishing attacks and malware infections.

2. Cloudflare DNS – Offers fast and secure DNS resolution with built-in protection against DDoS attacks and domain hijacking. For a detailed setup guide, you can refer to a complete step-by-step guide on setting up Cloudflare.

3. Quad9 – A privacy-focused DNS resolver that blocks known malicious domains using threat intelligence from security firms.

4. Cisco Umbrella – An enterprise-grade DNS security solution that proactively filters out threats before they reach your network.

5. NextDNS – Provides customizable DNS filtering to block malware, ads, and trackers, offering an extra layer of privacy.

6. MXToolbox – A powerful tool that checks your DNS records, detects misconfigurations, and verifies if your domain is blacklisted.

7. Whoxy – A WHOIS lookup tool that helps monitor domain ownership changes and detect unauthorized DNS modifications.

8. SecurityTrails – Tracks historical DNS records and domain information to help investigate suspicious activities or cyber threats.

9. Robtex – A comprehensive DNS analysis tool that maps relationships between IP addresses, domains, and networks.

10. Zonemaster – Helps website owners validate and troubleshoot their DNS configurations to improve security and performance.

11. DNS Spy – Provides real-time monitoring of your DNS settings, alerting you to unauthorized changes that could indicate a security breach.

12. Spyse – A cybersecurity reconnaissance tool that maps DNS infrastructure and helps identify vulnerabilities in domain setups.

13. ViewDNS.info – Offers multiple DNS and network analysis tools to check domain security, WHOIS data, and more.

14. IntoDNS – Analyzes domain health and suggests improvements to avoid vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.

15. Domaintools – Delivers domain intelligence, including WHOIS history and DNS record tracking, to spot fraudulent activities.

16. DNSCheck – A diagnostic tool that verifies the integrity and security of DNS records, detecting potential risks.

17. Netcraft – Provides website risk analysis and detects phishing attacks by analyzing domain trust levels.

18. Farsight DNSDB – Uses passive DNS data to track domain changes and uncover cyber threats in real time.

19. UltraDNS – A high-performance, secure DNS service with DDoS protection and real-time traffic filtering.

20. Infoblox DNS Security – Helps organizations secure their DNS infrastructure from data exfiltration and malware threats.

21. Google Public DNS – A fast and secure DNS resolver that prevents DNS-based attacks and improves browsing speeds.

22. OpenDNS – A free and premium DNS filtering service that blocks unsafe websites and offers parental controls.

23. BlueCat DNS Edge – Uses AI-driven analytics to detect and stop DNS-based cyber threats before they cause harm.

24. ThousandEyes – A performance monitoring tool that tracks DNS response times and detects anomalies in network traffic.

25. Neustar UltraDNS – A premium DNS service offering advanced threat intelligence, failover protection, and security filtering.

Conclusion

DNS security is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of your online presence. A well-protected DNS ensures that your website remains safe from cyber threats, unauthorized redirects, and hijacking attempts. If you're new to DNS security, start with free tools to monitor your domain and track potential vulnerabilities. As you recognize the benefits, you can explore paid options for advanced security features.

Your domain name is a valuable digital asset—protect it wisely. With 25 powerful tools at your disposal, take time to explore and find the best solutions that fit your needs. Start today and secure your digital presence for the long run!