DNS spoofing attack and how it works?

DotNek Software Development 10 minute(s) read

Last updated: Sep 22, 2020

DNS spoofing can be used by attackers to capture internet traffic with the intention of illegal activities.

DNS is generally described as an Internet phone book because it translates domain names into IP addresses. DNS refers to the domain name system that provides information on domain names. DNS is based on a hierarchical structure, with a domain at the top called the root domain and with top-level domains below that divide the DNS into different parts. The DNS itself was not secure at all. Over time, this has led malevolent actors to benefit from this problem and develop sophisticated techniques of attack taking advantage of DNS, like DNS spoofing.

DNS Spoofing Attack

DNS spoofing is the resultant threat that emulates a server's legitimate destinations for forwarding domain traffic. Unsolicited victims end up on malicious websites. DNS spoofing is a type of cyberattack in which false data is introduced in the resolver cache of DNS, causing the nameserver to return an invalid IP address. The attacker's ultimate goal is usually the same regardless of which method he uses. The most common way to do DNS spoofing is to use cache poisoning.



This type of attack uses the vulnerabilities in the domain name servers and then redirects traffic to illegal websites. Once there, users are required to log into their account, which gives the committer the ability to steal access credentials and other types of confidential information. the malicious website is often used to install viruses or worms on the user’s system, giving long-term access to the committer.

Methods of DNS Spoofing Attack

DNS spoofing is a generic term and can be done using various methods, such as DNS cache poisoning. It comprises of a DNS server executing a man-in-the-middle attack . There are three different methods of a DNS spoofing attack . Among the different methods of DNS spoofing attacks, here are three of the most common:

1- Man-in-the-middle duping
2- DNS server hijack
3- DNS cache poisoning via spam

How DNS Spoofing Can be Avoided?

After knowing about the DNS spoofing attack and how it takes place, you must be thinking is this attack can be avoided and if yes how to avoid it. You don’t have to do much for the prevention of DNS spoofing. Instead, it falls more into the hands of the actual DNS provider who handles DNS website searches and the website owner. Therefore, website owners and DNS providers should consider some precautions to avoid DNS spoofing. Here are some of the best tips to consider to prevent DNS spoofing.

- Implement DNS spoofing detection mechanisms
- Use encrypted data transfer protocols
- Use DNSSEC
DNS spoofing can cause a lot of problems for visitors and website owners. The primary reason an attacker conducts a DNS spoofing attack is for personal gain or for the spread of malware . Therefore, as a website owner, it is important to choose a trusted DNS hosting provider that uses modern security mechanisms.