CASP+ Definitions: DNSSEC

DNSSEC stands for Domain Name System Security Extensions, which is a security technology that adds a layer of protection to the Domain Name System (DNS) by digitally signing DNS records. DNS is responsible for translating human-readable domain names, such as www.fulldevsecops.com, into IP addresses that computers can understand.

DNSSEC uses public key cryptography to sign DNS records and verify their authenticity. This helps to prevent DNS spoofing attacks, where an attacker can intercept DNS queries and return false information, such as redirecting users to a malicious website.

With DNSSEC, when a user makes a DNS query, the response is digitally signed by the domain’s owner using a private key. The user’s device then uses the domain’s public key to verify the digital signature and ensure that the response is authentic.

DNSSEC can also provide other security benefits, such as detecting DNS cache poisoning attacks, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks, and enabling secure delegation of subdomains.

Overall, DNSSEC is an important technology for improving the security and integrity of the Domain Name System, and is widely used by organizations around the world to protect their online infrastructure and prevent cyber attacks.