The right way to Use a DNS Server to Improve Safety and Work Round Geofences

increase security

As this 12 months is formed with worldwide self-isolation, the tendency is to maneuver actions on-line in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons are in search of dependable means to guard their gadgets from malware for work and broaden their attain of recent content material for leisure. Right here is how one can use a DNS server to extend safety and work round geofences.

The traditional solution to obtain geofencing is to make use of a VPN that provides safety and privateness safety.

On the one hand, you should utilize a VPN to realize privateness and permit customers to override geo-restrictions, on the opposite.

Nevertheless, there’s an alternative choice that works properly for particular person and small-scale customers: DNS-based options, reminiscent of Good DNS and DNS Firewall. They provide extra focused options for the issues we face in our day by day actions at a lower cost. This distinguishes them from complete enterprise instruments that shield intensive enterprise networks. 

What’s DNS?

Usually talking, the Area Identify System, or DNS, is the best way that domains are positioned and translated into IP addresses. You possibly can examine DNS to a cellphone ebook the place each area identify is mapped to a specified IP handle. 

After we surf the Web, we use domains, like google.com or fb.com. Nevertheless, Net browsers use Web Protocol (IP) addresses like 69.63.181.15 to entry the web site. What DNS does is matching these addresses. Whenever you kind an URL in a Net browser, it sends a request to a devoted DNS server that returns a corresponding IP handle. The online browser can then use it to entry the web site. With out such a system, we’d should memorize all IP addresses.

On the similar time, DNS is far more than only a listing. You can also use it to bypass geoblocking and improve safety whereas browsing the online. However does this imply that DNS might substitute a VPN connection?

Good DNS and geoblocking

In all probability, each Web consumer has encountered a geoblocking drawback.  You wish to watch a brand new episode of your favourite sequence on Netflix or click on on a video on Youtube. However out of the blue, all you’ll be able to see is the error saying that the video is unavailable in your area. Such limiting entry to a specific area is named “geoblocking,” and it’s extensively utilized by video-streaming websites, like BBC’s iPlayer, Netflix and ABC iView.

The underlying precept is kind of easy: every machine related to the Web has a novel IP handle. IP addresses are allotted in blocks to web service suppliers (ISPs) who in flip, allocate them to clients. This scheme makes IP addresses traceable to a geographic location. Thus, firms can restrict entry solely to IP addresses from a specific area.

The way in which to trick geoblocking is to alter your IP handle — or make it so the web site in query wouldn’t have the ability to detect it correctly — in order that its location would appear eligible. Good DNS is a know-how that directs a consumer to a proxy server to masks the IP handle. Due to that, you’ll be able to achieve entry to geo-restricted content material.

The way it works

DNS handle assigned by your web service supplier accommodates information about your geo-location. Good DNS replaces it with the handle of a brand new Good DNS server. A Good DNS supplier makes use of proxy servers within the area eligible to view the requested content material. The Good DNS server might be positioned wherever on this planet.

When you find yourself related to this server, your visitors is routed by it. Good DNS intercepts your connection requests to the server you wish to entry, and punctiliously replaces any knowledge in these requests that may leak your geo-location.

Trendy apps run easily on any platform and machine with an web connection, from routers to sensible TVs and online game consoles. These fashionable apps have a very international community of servers unblocking the preferred video streaming platforms, together with American Netflix, Amazon Prime, and HBO Now.

Good DNS vs. VPN

At first look, plainly the options of SmartDNS and VPN are fairly related. Like a VPN, Good DNS instruments disguise your actual location. Nevertheless, in distinction to a VPN, they don’t change the IP handle of your machine.  They solely masks their authentic IP handle. With a VPN, you connect with a safe native server in a foreign country instantly. You employ that server’s web connection – and its IP handle – as your individual to stream sure content material.

One other essential distinction from a VPN is {that a} Good DNS doesn’t encrypt your visitors. With out knowledge encryption, the connection between your machine and the webserver is far quicker than by a VPN tunnel that masks and encrypts all visitors. Therefore, the most important benefit of SmartDNS over a VPN is the velocity, because it permits streaming from common channels in 4K Extremely HD with none lags or delays, restricted solely by your community velocity.

For a consumer who’s searching for a quick and easy solution to bypass geo-restrictions with out the need to dig into the machine configuration, a Good DNS is the best choice. Because it doesn’t require any set up, it’s wrapped in an intuitive and easy-to-use DNS Proxy app. The DNS proxy app shares the identical DNS IP handle throughout a number of gadgets; it turns into an optimum resolution in the event you merely wish to get entry to a brand new sequence at your leisure time.

On the similar time, you can not use a Good DNS to make sure safety and privateness safety. If these are at stake, it’s worthwhile to sacrifice the velocity of connection and select an acceptable VPN protocol.

Enhanced Safety with DNS Firewall

At first sight, it might sound that on the subject of on-line safety, encryption, and on-line freedom, the winner is at all times the VPN. Nevertheless, a VPN can solely guarantee your privateness.  It received’t defend you from malicious web sites. To remain protected towards doable assaults, customers want a DNS firewall, a community safety resolution that intercepts DNS decision for known-malicious web sites.

The way it works

In line with the Cisco 2020 Safety report, 91% of malware makes use of DNS providers to construct cyber-attacks, which makes DNS-based malware one of the vital widespread cyber threats. To reply the risk, a DNS Firewall was designed. This resolution selectively intercepts DNS decision for known-malicious Web areas, reminiscent of domains, IP addresses, and identify servers. The interception can entail rewriting a DNS response to direct an internet browser to a “walled backyard.” Another choice is to make the malicious community property invisible and unreachable by the machine.

In consequence, the DNS Firewall works as a cloud barrier between a tool and the web visitors from malicious servers.

The identical applies to phishing web sites geared toward stealing the consumer’s confidential knowledge which can be more and more common throughout email-based assaults, ransomware, and botnet command and management websites. A DNS Firewall successfully detects and blocks all phishing hyperlinks retaining the consumer protected on-line. Moreover, with its fairly intuitive interface, even much less tech-savvy customers can blacklist web sites by particular classes (like gaming, playing, or grownup websites).

In sure options, customers can block websites with pop-up home windows or undesirable content material by class or by a particular area.

DNS Firewall vs. VPN

Whereas these applied sciences share a lot in widespread, they don’t overlap. A VPN masks the consumer’s id, and the DNS Firewall blocks exterior threats. There’s a manner to make sure protected net browsing that mixes on-line anonymity, VPN encryption and efficient shielding from cyber-attacks. You need to use a mix of VPN and DNS applied sciences as a bundle or as standalone initiatives.

Related however complementary, the 2 applied sciences can convey cybersecurity to a brand new degree. Whereas a VPN is crucial to guard your web privateness because it supplies an encrypted connection between your machine and the Web, DNS-based instruments carry out a variety of complementary duties, reminiscent of unblocking geo-restricted content material, like a SmartDNS, or defending you and your kids from undesirable content material and phishing assaults, like a DNS Firewall.

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