DNSSEC, an acronym for Domain Name System Security Extensions, is a set of specifications and cryptographic techniques that enhance the security, integrity, and authenticity of the Domain Name System (DNS). DNSSEC serves as an extension to DNS by incorporating digital signatures and authentication mechanisms to prevent malicious practices like DNS cache poisoning, tampering, redirection, and spoofing attacks.
The primary objective of DNSSEC is to protect the DNS infrastructure from adversaries who attempt to manipulate or intercept DNS queries and responses, thereby ensuring the accuracy and trustworthiness of the data transfers. To achieve this, DNSSEC employs a hierarchical chain of trust using public key cryptography.
With DNSSEC, domain owners cryptographically sign their DNS records, which creates a digital signature. These signatures are then validated by resolvers to verify the authenticity of the DNS data. Resolvers check these signatures against the corresponding public keys stored in the DNS system's authoritative servers. By doing so, DNSSEC enables end-users and clients to validate and confirm the integrity of the DNS data they receive, ensuring that the requested domain name corresponds to the actual IP addresses it claims to represent.
In summary, DNSSEC protects the DNS infrastructure and prevents DNS-based attacks by employing digital signatures and cryptographic mechanisms. By offering a secure chain of trust, it ensures the accuracy and integrity of DNS data, enhancing the overall security and reliability of the internet for end-users, organizations, and service providers.
