April 26, 2011
What Are DNS Lookups and How Are They Used?
The DNS or domain name system is the largest digital database in the world, storing all registration information pertaining to every domain name in existence. The database is continuously maintained and stored on thousands of web servers in various countries, thereby ensuring the redundancy and continuity of the network at all times. In particular, the DNS stores information related to IP addresses, domain registrant data, hosting provider details, and the nameservers assigned to each domain. Every web server can be utilized as a DNS server, provided that the plan holder has the permission to access the server root, where the server software can be installed that facilitates communication with the DNS system. The following paragraphs explain DNS lookups and how they are used on a regular basis.
WHOis Database
While domain registration information would seem to be private, it can be accessed by anyone with the willingness and time needed to do so. The WHOis database can be accessed on a plethora of websites online for free, and allows the user to research the registration details of a domain using the domain name. There are also reverse lookup services that allow the user to research registration and hosting details based on the IP address of a website or web server. It should be noted that there is no way to verify the authenticity of the information in the WHOis database, as domain registrants can use fake information when registering a domain and purchasing a hosting account. The only exception to this is military or government websites, which must contain verified registration details.
Using the Database to Report Spam
One of the primary reasons people utilize the database is to find information about a particular web server or IP address that spam e-mails are originating from. If your website e-mail or personal inbox is being attacked by spam, it is possible to obtain the IP address of the sender within the header of the e-mail (by selecting "show full header"), and then use this IP address to conduct a reverse lookup and obtain the hosting details of the sender. Most spammers send e-mails from virtual private servers remotely, so it is very likely that the e-mail is originating from one of their hosting plans. Fortunately, after finding out who the host provider is, it is possible to report the spam and have the spammer's hosting account canceled.
Using DNS Lookups to Stop DDoS Attacks
Even worse than repetitive spam is the infamous DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack, which renders a hosting account useless by overloading the server with extraordinary amounts of web traffic in a short period of time. Hackers usually accomplish this by installing viruses on thousands of computers, and then using the resources of these computers as a "botnet" to conduct various tasks, including flooding particular websites with fraudulent traffic. When this happens, the hosting provider has no choice but to deny service temporarily until the attack is brought under control. Fortunately, a DNS lookup can be used to find information about the attacker and report them to the appropriate authorities.
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