What Is DNSSEC?
DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) adds a layer of cryptographic authentication to DNS responses. It ensures that the DNS data you receive is authentic and has not been tampered with during transit, protecting against attacks like DNS spoofing and cache poisoning.
How It Works
DNSSEC works by digitally signing DNS records using public-key cryptography. Each DNS zone has a pair of keys: a Zone Signing Key (ZSK) signs individual records, and a Key Signing Key (KSK) signs the ZSK. Resolvers validate signatures by following a chain of trust from the root zone down to the queried domain.
Why It Matters
Without DNSSEC, attackers can forge DNS responses to redirect users to malicious websites. This is particularly dangerous for banking, email, and e-commerce sites. DNSSEC is increasingly required for compliance and is recommended by ICANN and major security organizations.
Common Issues
- DS records not configured at the registrar level
- Key rollover failures breaking validation
- Expired RRSIG signatures causing resolution failures
- Incompatible resolvers dropping DNSSEC-signed responses