How DNS over HTTPS (DoH) Helps Prevent Surveillance and Improves Privacy

In today's interconnected world, online privacy is a paramount concern. Every time you visit a website, your computer needs to translate the website's name (like google.com) into its numerical IP address so it can connect. This translation is handled by the Domain Name System (DNS).

Traditionally, DNS queries were sent in plain text, making them easily intercepted and logged by your internet service provider (ISP), government agencies, or even malicious actors. This means your browsing history, including websites you visit, could be monitored without your knowledge or consent. This is where DNS over HTTPS (DoH) steps in.

What is DNS over HTTPS (DoH)?

DoH encrypts your DNS queries using the HTTPS protocol, the same secure protocol used for online banking and shopping. This encryption prevents third parties from eavesdropping on your DNS requests, effectively shielding your browsing activity from unwanted observation.

How DoH Helps Prevent:

1. ISP Surveillance:

Your ISP can no longer see which websites you visit. This prevents them from building profiles of your online behavior, selling your data to advertisers, or engaging in targeted advertising.

2. Government Censorship and Surveillance:

In countries with restrictive internet regulations, DoH can help circumvent censorship by encrypting your DNS requests, making it harder for governments to block access to specific websites or track your online activity. However, it's important to note that while DoH improves privacy, it doesn't provide complete anonymity and may not overcome sophisticated censorship techniques.

3. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks:

A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack involves an attacker intercepting communication between you and a server. With DoH, even if an attacker intercepts your traffic, they won't be able to decrypt your DNS queries, preventing them from redirecting you to malicious websites or gaining insights into your browsing habits.

4. DNS Spoofing and Cache Poisoning:

DoH provides enhanced security against DNS spoofing and cache poisoning, two common attacks where malicious actors manipulate DNS responses to redirect users to fake websites. The encryption provided by DoH makes these attacks much more difficult to execute successfully.

Benefits Beyond Prevention:

• Improved Performance: Some DoH providers offer faster resolution times compared to traditional DNS.
• Enhanced Privacy: Beyond preventing surveillance, DoH protects against DNS leaks that can reveal your identity and location.
• Increased Security: DoH adds an extra layer of security, protecting against various DNS-related attacks.

Considerations:

While DoH offers significant benefits, it's not a silver bullet. It's essential to understand that:

• Your activity is still visible to the DoH provider: You're trusting the DoH provider with your DNS queries, so selecting a reputable provider with a strong privacy policy is crucial.
• HTTPS is not foolproof: While highly secure, HTTPS is not immune to all attacks. Advanced attackers may still find ways to compromise DoH.
• Not all websites support DoH: While adoption is growing, not all websites or applications fully support DoH.

Conclusion:

DNS over HTTPS is a crucial step towards enhancing online privacy and security. By encrypting your DNS queries, it helps prevent surveillance from ISPs, governments, and malicious actors. While it's not a perfect solution, the benefits of using DoH significantly outweigh the drawbacks for most users concerned about their online privacy.