Yearly Archives: 2023

TTL & The Online Security Risks

In the interconnected world of digital networks, Time-to-Live (TTL) often remains an overlooked concept, despite its substantial impact on online security. As a student who is enthralled by the evolving paradigms of cybersecurity, I argue that understanding Time-to-Live can offer critical insights into mitigating potential online risks.

What is TTL?

Time-to-Live (TTL) is a value in networking that dictates how long a data packet should ‘live’ within a network before being discarded or forwarded to its next destination. Originally, Time-to-Live was designed to prevent data packets from looping endlessly within networks, thereby saving bandwidth and ensuring efficient data transmission (Alaettinoglu et al., 1997).

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Private DNS server: Breakdown

Among the numerous tools and techniques available to safeguard online activities, the concept of Private DNS servers stands out with great protection and control. In this article, we will explain what it is, understand how it works, and the various benefits it offers to organizations and individuals alike.

What is a Private DNS Server?

A Private DNS server is a DNS server designed to be used exclusively by a specific organization or individual rather than being publicly accessible like the typical DNS servers provided by internet service providers (ISPs) or tech giants. Instead of relying on a third-party DNS service, users can set up their own Private DNS server, giving them greater control over their online browsing and data privacy.

Unlike public DNS servers, Private DNS servers are not openly accessible to everyone, which means only authorized users or devices can query the DNS records hosted on the server. This exclusivity enhances security and reduces the chances of DNS-related attacks like cache poisoning and man-in-the-middle attacks.

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DNS spoofing – How to protect ourselves?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is vulnerable to threats, and one of the most insidious among them is DNS spoofing. This deceptive technique poses a significant risk to both individuals and organizations, compromising data security and potentially leading to devastating consequences. In this blog post, we will understand its mechanisms, explore its consequences, and, most importantly, learn how to safeguard ourselves against this cyber menace.

What is DNS Spoofing?

DNS spoofing, also known as DNS cache poisoning or DNS poisoning, is a malicious act wherein attackers manipulate the DNS resolution process to redirect legitimate domain name requests to fraudulent IP addresses. This manipulation is achieved by injecting falsified data into the DNS cache of a recursive resolver, leading users to believe they are accessing authentic websites when, in reality, they are redirected to malicious ones.

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