Understanding DNS and Why It Matters for Security

DNS is like the phonebook of the internet. When you type a website name, DNS translates it into an IP address that computers understand. Without DNS, you would have to remember IP addresses for every website. However, DNS can be exploited — DNS spoofing, cache poisoning, and man-in-the-middle attacks are real threats. Using encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT) and trusted DNS providers like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8) can protect you.