When you type a web address into your browser – for example, www.example.com – you're actually being directed to a specific IP address, which works like a phone number for computers. This number is what your computer uses to find the correct website.
Since IP addresses are long and hard to remember, we use domain names instead – which are easier for people to work with. The system that translates domain names into IP addresses is called the Domain Name System, or DNS.
DNS is a fundamental part of how the internet works, but it was originally designed without built-in security. Unfortunately, this means there are ways cybercriminals can exploit weaknesses in the DNS system. For example, they might redirect users to fake websites that look real, or intercept information like emails during transmission.
That’s where DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) comes in. DNSSEC adds a digital signature to DNS information, allowing your computer to verify that the data it receives really comes from the correct source – and hasn’t been tampered with.
In short: DNSSEC helps ensure that you end up on the website you intended to visit, and protects you from certain types of cyberattacks.
