This takes place behind the scenes after you punch in aURLinto a web net online gate’s address bar.
How Does DNS Work?
Computers calledroot serversare responsible for storing the IP addresses for everytop-level domain.
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Finally, this information is sent back to the machine you requested it from.
While remembering DNS information is helpful, it can sometimes become corrupted or outdated.
However, flushing out the cache manually in place of a reboot is much quicker.
You canflush the DNS in WindowsthroughCommand Promptwith theipconfig /flushdnscommand.
The websiteWhat’s My DNS?has instructions on doing this on macOS and Linux.
Entries in the hosts file aren’t removed when the DNS cache is wiped clean.
You mustedit the hosts fileto eliminate hostnames and IP addresses that are stored there.
Most DNS services provide protection against these types of attacks.
Another way for attackers to affect DNS entries is to use the hosts file.
Entries stored in that file override DNS server configs, so it’s a common target for malware.
A simple way to protect the hosts file from being edited is to mark it as aread-only file.
See this list ofFree and Public DNS Serversfor some examples of alternative DNS servers.
However, if it’snotset up with DHCP, youmustspecify the DNS servers it should use.
Explicit DNS server options take precedence over implicit, top-down options.
In other words, it’s the DNS parameters closest to a machine that the machine uses.
Most internet connected devices give you the freedom to not onlyview DNS options, but also change them.
LearnHow to Change DNS on AndroidorHow to Change Your Mac’s DNS Settingsfor more on that.
The opposite, areverse DNS lookup, is something else that can be done with DNS servers.
This is when a hostname is identified by its IP address.
DNS databases store lots of things in addition to IP addresses and hostnames.
Using configs is preferable if you aren’t comfortable using a command line.
Lifewire has a list withrecommendations for the best free DNS servers out there.
