DoH DNS server, which stands for DNS over HTTPS, is a protocol that encrypts DNS queries and responses using the secure HTTPS protocol. This provides an additional layer of privacy and security to users when they are browsing the internet.
What is DNS?
DNS, or Domain Name System, is a fundamental part of the internet infrastructure. It translates human-readable domain names like www.example.com into IP addresses that computers can understand.
When you type a website’s URL into your browser’s address bar, your device sends a DNS query to a DNS server to find the corresponding IP address for that domain name. The DNS server then responds with the IP address, enabling your device to establish a connection with the website’s server.
The Need for DoH DNS Servers
While traditional DNS queries are sent in plaintext, DoH encrypts these queries and responses using HTTPS. This encryption helps protect against eavesdropping and tampering by malicious actors.
With traditional unencrypted DNS queries, your ISP or any other intermediary on your network path can potentially intercept and view your browsing history. They could also modify the responses or redirect you to malicious websites without your knowledge.
The introduction of DoH helps mitigate these risks by ensuring that all communication between your device and the DoH DNS server is encrypted. This prevents unauthorized access or modifications to your DNS traffic.
How Does DoH Work?
When you enable DoH in your browser or operating system settings, it starts using a DoH-capable DNS server instead of a traditional one. The DoH server acts as an intermediary between your device and other regular DNS servers on the internet.
Your device sends encrypted DNS queries over HTTPS to the DoH server. The server then decrypts the queries, performs the DNS resolution, and sends back the encrypted responses over HTTPS. This ensures that your DNS traffic remains secure and private.
DoH also allows you to bypass any DNS-based censorship or filtering implemented by your ISP or network administrator. Since the DNS queries are encrypted, it becomes difficult for them to block or modify specific requests.
Setting Up DoH
To use DoH, you need to configure your device to use a DoH-capable DNS server. Some popular DoH servers include Cloudflare (1.1.1), Google (8.8.8), and Mozilla (dns.mozilla.org).
Each operating system and browser may have different methods for enabling DoH settings. It’s best to refer to the official documentation for your specific device or software to learn how to enable DoH.
Conclusion
DoH DNS servers provide an encrypted and secure way of performing DNS resolutions, enhancing privacy and security for internet users. By encrypting DNS queries and responses using HTTPS, DoH mitigates the risks associated with traditional unencrypted DNS traffic.
By using a DoH-capable DNS server, you can ensure that your browsing history remains private from ISPs and other potential eavesdroppers. It also allows you to bypass any DNS-based restrictions imposed by your network provider.
In summary, DoH is an important advancement in securing internet communications and protecting user privacy.