IPv6 – What does it mean, and what is it used for?

The IPv6 is a network layer protocol that allows communication and data transfer between two different hosts. It sets specific rules that help identify the separate hosts and track their location. That way, they could exchange information successfully. Only when the two corresponding IP addresses are identified, the route could be established, and the hosts are able to communicate.

IPv6 operates with 128-bit addresses. Each address includes eight different groups of strings, and every group has four characters (alphanumeric), divided by a colon. Thanks to these characteristics, it is able to provide an incredible amount of unique IP addresses. That guarantees that we should have available unique IP addresses to assign to all of the new devices for a very long time.

History of IPv6

IPv6 stands for Internet Protocol version 6, and it is the newer version of the Internet Protocol (IP). Yet, can you imagine it was around for more than 20 years? It was introduced back in December 1995! The main goal for its creation is to take over and eventually replace the previous protocol – IPv4. The reason is simple. The number of devices that want to connect to the Internet is growing tremendously, and IPv4 is not able to satisfy such needs. 

IPv4 protocol, the previous standard, allows 4.2 billion unique IP addresses. However, with the newer tech developments and the various new wireless and network-attached devices, such as the IoT devices, it was predicted that by 2010, the Internet would have exhausted all unique IPv4 addresses.

On the other hand, thanks to the standardization of the new IPv6, it allows 3.4 x 1038 unique IP addresses. This is equal to 340 trillion trillion trillion IP addresses.

How does the Internet work? 

The Internet is a pretty extensive cable network. It connects numerous data centers placed all over the world and the users that desire to reach and connect with their services. All of the network points are connected with massive cables.

Additionally, such a large network of interconnected machines and devices requires proper order and the ability to identify all of the different devices with their associated addresses. Therefore, both users and servers should have an IP address for that purpose. Moreover, the servers hold hostnames, too. 

When a user wants to view a particular website, it has to type its domain name (hostname) and connect to the web server that holds the information for it. Every website on the Internet is hosted on web servers in different data centers. That way, you can access websites, applications, and services.

IP address – definition

The IP address serves as an ID and identifies all of the various hosts on the network – both servers and users. There are two main types of IP addresses:

• Private: This type of IP address is used when users connect on a closed private network. Thanks to it, the user gains access to the specific network, and it is able to communicate with the other devices, which it includes.
• Public: This type of IP address is used when you want to connect to the Internet. Usually, an Internet service provider (ISP) provides you with a router that you need and a public IP address. Servers need such an address too, and it should not change, meaning they should be static.

You are probably wondering why we are talking about IP addresses. In reality, to access a website, we just type domain names. So, let’s find out more!

Domain Name System explained

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a global database that contains all of the existing domain names and their IP addresses. It answers the DNS queries of the users for the domain names and their IP addresses daily.

The Domain Name System is decentralized and built in a hierarchical order. Therefore, each level knows the answer for the one below. On the top level are the Root servers, which provide information about the TLD (Top-Level Domain) servers. In addition, they hold data about where the different extensions are, such as .com, .info, .net, etc.

Thanks to this arrangement, it is easy for users to type the domain name and reach the website. The user requests the needed IP address (IPv4 or IPv6), and it first checks the DNS cache of the device. If it’s not available there, the recursive DNS server performs the next step. It searches for the answer until it reaches the authoritative DNS server that holds the needed information (A record or AAAA record). This whole process is also known as DNS resolution.

Types of Internet Protocol version 6 addresses

Now we know what an IPv6 address is. So, let’s take a look at its three different types: unicast, anycast, and multicast, which are defined by RFC 4291: IP Version 6 Addressing Architecture.

• Unicast (a single interface) – It represents a particular node on a network and frequently alludes to a specific transmitter or receiver. Accordingly, it is one-on-one communication.
• Anycast (a set of interfaces) – It is linked to a group of interfaces, most of which are connected to various nodes. Accordingly, it is one-to-closest communication.
• Multicast (a group of interfaces) – We only implement it as a datagram’s destination and represents a collection of IP devices. Accordingly, it is one-to-many communication.

Furthermore, IPv6 does not support broadcast addresses. Multicast addresses are used to implement the broadcast features.

IPv4 vs. IPv6 – differences

The main contrast between IPv4 and IPv6 is in the increased number of addresses. The IPv4 is a 32-bit IP address, and IPv6 is a 128-bit IP address. Yet, IPv4 is still a popular choice compared to IPv6.

Additional differences between IPv4 and IPv6 are:

• IPv6 relies on an alphanumeric addressing technique. On the other hand, IPv4 is based only on numeric.
• The bits in IPv6 are divided by a colon. The bits in IPv4 are divided by a period.
• IP security is demanded by IPv6, while in IPv4, it is an option.
• IPv6 implements an IP security (IPSec) protocol. On the other hand, IPv4 leans on applications.
• With IPv6, networks are automatically configured. On the other hand, networks based on IPv4 should be configured via Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) or manually.
• IPv6 uses NDP (Neighbor Discovery Protocol) for mapping MAC addresses, and IPv4 operates with ARP (Address Resolution Protocol).
• IPv6 holds eight header fields with a length of 40-characters. IPv4 holds 14 header fields with a length of eight characters.
• IPv6 does not include any checksum fields.

Ways to check IPv6 address

If you are wondering how to check an IPv6 address, don’t worry we got you covered! It is a simple and easy task which you can perform both for a device (network) and for a specific hostname.

For a device/network

Checking your IPv6 address is a simple task. There are several ways you could see it. 

• Via your browser: 

You are able to check your external IPv6 address by simply writing “What is my IP” on Google.com. You are going to receive the regular search results, plus a rich snippet with the information you need. So, simple and easy, right!

• If you are a Windows user:

In this case, you should simply open the Command Prompt. Then, type the following:  “ipconfig”. You will receive as an answer the entire IP configuration.

• If you are a Linux user:

In this case, you should simply open the Terminal and then type the following: “ip addr”. Next, you should find “inet”, and you are going to notice your IPv6 address.

• If you are a macOS user:

In this case, click the Apple icon on your top left corner. Then click on “System Preferences” and find and click on “Network”. Lastly, search for the network connection that you use and click on it. There you are going to see your IPv6 address. Easy, right?

For a hostname

We took a look at how to check your Internet Protocol version 6. But let’s see how to find it for a hostname. It is also an easy procedure, depending on the Operating System that you are using.

• On Windows

Open the Command Prompt application. Inside it, write the following command:
nslookup -type=aaaa cloudns.net
Press Enter to get the IPv6 address(es) for cloudns.net. 

10 most used Nslookup commands

• On macOS

Open the Terminal application. Inside it, write the following command:
dig cloudns.net aaaa
Press Enter and check the results. 

Check out our article if you want to learn more about the dig command, how to install it, and use it.

• On Linux

Open the Terminal. Inside it, write the following command:
dig cloudns.net aaaa
Press Enter and check the results. 

*Note that you need to change cloudns.net with the hostname you want to check*

How to figure out the full address from the shortened one?

First, determine whether the address contains a double colon to select the full IPv6 from an abbreviated one. Next, view how many double colons represent 0 blocks if it has one. To do this, count the number of blocks in the abbreviated address and divide it by 8. In the address AF02::2, for example, there are two blocks: AF02 and 2. The double colon (::) represents the number of blocks (8 blocks – 2 two blocks).

After determining all eight blocks, count the number of hexadecimal digits in each. Each block must include four Hexadecimal digits. If any block has fewer than four hexadecimal digits, add an equal number of zeros on the left side or in the block’s leading position.

Let’s use the abbreviated example address to calculate the full address.

AF02::2
AF02:0:0:0:0:0:0:2 – The address after removing the abbreviated double-colon
AF02:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0002 – The address after adding leading zeros

So the full address of the abbreviated address AF02::2 is AF02:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0002.

Advantages and disadvantages

As many things in life, IPv6 also has its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore it is important to know what you can expect from this new Internet Protocol.

Advantages of IPv6

The main benefits of IPv6 include the following:

• It increases the capacity of address space – That way, the different resources are efficiently distributed to the adapted additional web addresses.
• Routing is efficient – It gives a possibility of easy aggregation of prefixes assigned to IP networks.
• Efficient Data Flow – It allows the transfer of large data packets simultaneously. That helps with preserving bandwidth.
• Security– It improves safety and security based on the improved authentication methods built into network firewalls.

Disadvantages of IPv6

As we mentioned there are some drawbacks of the protocol, which are:

• Slow adaptation: It is based on the fact that IPv4 is still very popular, and a large part of users are using it. The transition to the newer IPv6 is a slow process.
• Connection: IPv4 and IPv6 devices are not able to communicate directly. Yet, there are very few occasions that they would need to.
• Readability: Operating and learning IPv6 subnetting can be complicated on its own. Additionally, if you just think about remembering or memorizing your IPv6 address seems like a difficult task.

Suggested article: IPv4 vs IPv6 and where did IPv5 go?

IPv6 Transition Challenges

When it comes to discussing IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6), there are several challenges that organizations may face as they transition from IPv4 to IPv6. 

• Address Space Management: The biggest advantage of IPv6 is its vast address space, yet this can also be a challenge. Managing such a large pool of addresses requires robust strategies to ensure efficient allocation and prevent address exhaustion. Organizations need to develop effective address assignment policies to make the most of IPv6’s capabilities.
• Dual Stack Implementation: During the transition period, many networks operate in a dual-stack mode, supporting both IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously. As a result, configuration and maintenance are more complex, and potential security issues may arise. 
• Legacy System Compatibility: Not all systems and applications are IPv6-ready, and many legacy systems may only support IPv4. Ensuring compatibility and interoperability between IPv6-enabled devices and older systems can be challenging. It requires careful planning and investing in updates or replacements for outdated infrastructure.
• Security Concerns: While IPv6 includes features that improve security, such as IPsec integration, the transition itself can be risky. Misconfigurations, lack of awareness, and the coexistence of IPv4 and IPv6 can create vulnerabilities that attackers may exploit. Robust security measures and constant monitoring are crucial during the transition phase.
• Skill Gaps and Training: Implementing and managing IPv6 networks requires a different skill set compared to IPv4. Many IT professionals may need to learn the necessary expertise. Organizations should invest in training programs to ensure their team can effectively design, deploy, and maintain IPv6 networks.
• Costs and Budgeting: IPv6 adoption often involves investment in new hardware, software, and training. The upfront costs can be a significant barrier for some organizations, especially smaller ones with limited resources. Clear budgeting and cost-effective strategies are essential for a smooth transition.
• Internet Service Provider (ISP): The successful implementation of IPv6 also depends on ISPs. If they are not fully prepared to support the new protocol, it can lead to connectivity issues and interfere with the overall transition process.

Best Practices for Transitioning to IPv6

Transitioning to IPv6 requires careful planning to ensure a smooth and secure implementation.

• Start by adopting a dual-stack configuration, which allows your network to support both IPv4 and IPv6 during the transition. This approach helps maintain connectivity with both IPv4 and IPv6 devices.
• Develop a comprehensive IP address management strategy to effectively organize and allocate the large IPv6 address space.
• Prioritize training for IT staff on IPv6 configuration and troubleshooting as IPv6 introduces new protocols and practices.
• Implement strong security measures by configuring firewalls and monitoring systems for IPv6 traffic specifically.
• Collaborate with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to ensure they fully support IPv6, as ISP compatibility can significantly impact your transition’s success.

IPv6 Security: Exploring IPsec Integration

IPv6 includes IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) as an essential, built-in feature, offering improved security by encrypting and authenticating network traffic. Unlike IPv4, where IPsec is optional, IPv6 was designed with IPsec as a foundational element.

It provides three primary benefits: data integrity, data origin authentication, and data confidentiality, making IPv6 inherently more secure. This protocol suite is especially beneficial for sensitive data transmission, as it minimizes the risk of interception and tampering.

IPsec works by securing data packets at the network layer, which supports secure end-to-end communications without needing application-level encryption. However, IPsec setup and maintenance require expertise, so organizations should ensure their IT teams are highly familiar with IPv6 security practices to maximize the benefits of IPsec integration.

Conclusion 

There is no doubt that IPv6 is beneficial, and it is considered a revolutionary technology. However, it is going to take some time until we fully commit and use its real potential.

The post What is an IPv6 address? [Fully explained] appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

What is a DDoS attack?

DDoS attack stands for Distributed Denial-of-Service attack and represents a cyber-attack that aims to disrupt normal traffic and make the target (website, server, network) unavailable for regular users. There are few different types, but in general, a DDoS attack is an attempt to overwhelm the target (a computer, few connected computers or a whole DNS network) with high traffic from multiple sources.

The cybercriminals can generate this strong wave of traffic by:

• Using a network of pre-infected devices (computers, mobiles, IoT devices, etc.)  called a botnet
• Amplify attack that uses other servers to resend the traffic to a target after significantly increasing the size of the packets
• Occupy the existing connection and not allow new ones
• Exploit the vulnerabilities of a protocol, such as the UDP or another. 

There are many DDoS threats, this is why you want to a DDoS defense too. DDoS attack protection could keep your business safe and notify you of problems.

How does it work?

There are different types of DDoS attacks (volume-based attacks, protocol-based attacks, and application-layer attacks), but in general, they all have the same stages:

1. Pre-production of the attack. At this moment, the cybercriminals will create a network of botnets (infected devices) that later they will use for attacks. For example, hackers can bypass the security of IoT devices, or they can send phishing emails to users, and when the users open the emails, they can get infected with malicious code. 
2. Launching of the attack. Now it is time to use the botnet. Time for choosing a victim and sending the traffic towards the targeted server. There are different reasons for the attacks, but the goal is to saturate the target with traffic and take it out of service. 
3. The success of the attack. After a while, if the target does not have DDoS attack protection, or it is not strong enough, eventually it won’t be able to function correctly. There is a limit to how many active connections a server can have, even if it is very powerful. It will start to deny service and stop working. Normal users will not be able to use the server until the traffic drops again and the server can begin responding to normal queries. 
4. Final result. The bad actors could have achieved different goals, and now they get their reward. It could be money or just satisfaction with the success of the attack.

Signs of DDoS attacks 

DDoS attacks are extremely harmful and could lead to large reputational and financial losses. That is why it is crucial to be mindful and observe for any early signs of an appearing attack. There are specific characteristics of each DDoS attack type, but in general, what you can expect during an attack is: 

• Strange traffic, coming from one IP address or various but similar IP addresses (same range of addresses). 
• Traffic coming from devices with a similar profile (the type of devices, OS, etc.) and same patterns. 
• Out-of-ordinary traffic spikes like a huge spike, in the middle of the night without any sense or repeatable traffic, with a particular interval. 
• Traffic only to a single page, and no further exploration of your website.  

DDoS vs. DoS 

Let’s first briefly define a Denial of Service (DoS) attack. In this type of online attack, a source is maliciously infected in order to send big amounts of traffic to a target. The purpose is to saturate the system, to make it crash by exhausting its technical resources (CPU, RAM, etc.), or by exploiting a specific vulnerability and injecting a proper, harmful input. Then the service for users will be denied.

Now, let’s jump to the differences between DDoS vs. DoS attacks:

• Sources for attacking. In DoS attacks, the perpetrator only needs one Internet-connected device (source) to flood its victim with lots of forged requests or exploit a specific vulnerability within its software. DDoS attacks are executed from multiple sources, thousands, even millions of devices connected to the Internet.
• Way of execution. Generally, DoS weapons are apps like Low Orbit Ion Cannon or homemade codes. DDoS perpetrators use botnet armies, massive groups of malware-infected devices like PCs, routers, mobiles, Internet of Things (IoT) connected to the Internet. The traffic a DDoS attack can produce is heavy, much bigger than a DoS attack can.
• Damage scope. Both attacks can be very aggressive. But still, modern technology makes it easier to defend and even track the malicious source of a DoS attack, increasing the chances of identifying it and defeating it. It becomes a one-to-one fight (DoS). During a DDoS attack, you are fighting against multiple devices, possibly located in different countries or continents. You would have to track and stop all of them simultaneously. This is more like a war, and it definitely will demand so much more time and resources for the victim to defend and try stopping the attack. Thus, the damage scope of a DDoS is wider than the DoS one.

DDoS attacks Protection

There is a solution that can stop most of the DDoS attacks, even a strong attack involving heavy traffic, called DDoS Protection. It is an additional service to a regular managed DNS plan. 

To successfully mitigate a DDoS attack, you need to have the following 3 elements:

1. Active monitoring. You need a Monitoring solution system that checks for signs of attacks like increased traffic, suspicious traffic from particular IP addresses, and strange patterns of requests. 
2. Reactive service. One thing is to see the danger. Another is to take action. Good DDoS protection service must have auto triggers that will take action. This may include load balancing, traffic filtering, and an alarm system. 
3. Traffic load balancing. When we talk about heavy traffic, you need to direct the traffic to more servers. That way, you will balance the hit on one and disperse it to more. The more DNS servers your plan includes, the better possibility you have to resist the DDoS attack. 

You need to have an intelligent DDoS attack protection service that can distinguish between heavy traffic because of your excellent promotion or real danger. You don’t want to block your real users at any moment.

Discover Web monitoring from CloUDNS

What is the motivation of DDoS attackers?

Cybercriminals can have multiple reasons to use a DDoS attack, and the most common are:

• Extortion. The attacks can send waves of traffic towards the target and disturb the functionality of its services, causing technical problems, downtime, and miss of sales, demanding money for stopping the DDoS attack.
• DDoS-for-hire to attack the competition. On the Dark Web, people can hire hackers for DDoS attacks. Some people pay for such an attack to be directed towards their competitors. It is especially popular during important sales moments like Christmas, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Easter promotions. If the competitor is down, it won’t receive visitors on its site, and they will go to another place. The one who paid the attack hopes a part of these visitors directs to its site.
• Cyberwarfare. The governments of some countries use DDoS attacks to target the opposition’s news sites, their communication, or other crucial services. The goal is to control the narrative and not allow free speech in their country. These attacks could be especially strong because countries have a lot of money for sponsoring them.
• Gamers’ conflicts. You could be surprised, but the gaming industry has already reached almost 200 billion dollars in revenues per year, so the stakes are high. Rival gamers use DDoS attacks to bother their competitors and try to lower their scores. Sometimes, they use DDoS to stop a competition game they are losing and demand a re-match.
• Hacktivism. Hackers also have an opinion. They might have a problem with the government, with a particular organization or event. Modern activism has many new ways to protest and express a point that includes cyberattacks.

Types of DDoS attacks

Over time, cyber criminals managed to create multiple technical approaches for taking out their victims through DDoS. Each of the techniques falls into one of the three general types of DDoS attacks, which are the following: 

Volume-Based or Volumetric Attacks

These are the most classic type of DDoS attacks. They use different methods for generating massive volumes of traffic to overwhelm the capacity of the victim’s resources. As a result, servers are overwhelmed with requests, networks are overwhelmed with traffic, and databases are overwhelmed with calls. Additionally, they saturate bandwidth and produce large traffic, which results in it being impossible for legitimate user traffic to flow into the targeted website.

Protocol Attacks

Protocol attacks, also known as state-exhaustion attacks, abuse protocols to overwhelm a particular resource, most commonly a server but occasionally firewalls or load balancers. They are designed in a way that allows them to consume the processing capacity of network infrastructure resources. Their target is usually Layer 3 and Layer 4 protocol communications and, more precisely, their weaknesses. These attacks are often measured in packets per second.

Application-Layer Attacks

These DDoS attacks target weaknesses in applications in order to force the application itself to fail. In contrast to other attacks that mainly concentrate on disrupting infrastructure, these attacks are initiated on Layer 7 (the Application layer) by opening connections and starting processes and transaction requests that consume limited resources, such as disk space and available memory. Yet, it can even result in overloaded CPUs or exhausted memory, which impacts the server and other applications. Layer 7 attacks are well-known that are difficult to prevent since it can be challenging to distinguish malicious traffic from regular traffic. Application DDoS attacks are usually measured in requests per second.

In real-world cases, criminals can actually use a combination of these types of DDoS in order to increase the intensity of the attack.

Popular DDoS attacks used by hackers

Let’s talk a little bit more about the most popular types of DDoS attacks initiated by cybercriminals!

Smurf Attack

The Smurf attack is performed over the ping tool (ICMP echo request). The ping tool is used to check the reachability of connected devices.  When you send a ping request to the destination address, you should receive a confirmation. In this DDoS attack, the ping is sent to a device but from a masked IP. The return confirmation doesn’t go to the original source, but it is redirected to the target of the attack. All the infected devices will do the same, and they will send the traffic to the victim.

Teardrop Attack

A Teardrop attack works by sending modified, oversized data packets to the victim’s device to make them inaccessible. Frequently, perpetrators use a specific bug for destabilizing the fragmentation codes or the reassembly feature of the TCP/IP protocol. This opens the door for the teardrop attack to happen.
Reassembling the maliciously modified data packets won’t be possible. This will produce repeated attempts to complete the task. And the constant cycle of these repetitions will cause the overlapping of the packets. Finally, to increase the strain, big traffic loads will be sent to the target for a definitive crash.

Ping Of Death

The Ping Of Death (POD) attacks using a common and valid tool with malicious objectives – the Ping command. Altered or oversized data packets are sent to the target through the ping command.
Consider that a correct IPv4 data packet (IP header included) must be 65,535 bytes. This is the standard allowed by the Internet protocol (IP). Perpetrators violate it and make the target struggle while trying to reassemble altered packets repeatedly. Target’s resources like memory will be exhausted, causing different problems, crashing included.
POD became popular because attackers don’t need deep knowledge about its victim, only its IP address.

Slowloris

A highly dangerous attack executed a single computer vs. a server. A sophisticated technique that takes down a server without disrupting the rest of the network’s ports and services. Slowloris operates by sending many partial requests to the server. It keeps sending more and more HTTP headers continuously but without completing those requests. These forged requests keep many connections open to the server for a longer time than usual to overwhelm the maximum concurrent connection pool. As a result, the system will slow down, additional connections from legit users will be denied.

Zero-day DDoS attack

A Zero-day, also called a zero-minute attack, is one that takes advantage of new vulnerabilities. People are not yet aware of them. Usually, those vulnerabilities appear on new updates or patches, but they can also exist since the software is launched. The name of the attack refers to the fact it is happening before the vulnerability perpetrators used is publicly known.

This attack can have a positive purpose when software companies pay people in exchange for reporting vulnerabilities of new products before their official release. But it also points to the reality that attacks are far from disappearing.

Preparing a DDoS attack

To launch a DDoS attack, first, the criminals need to “recruit” enough connected devices that later will generate the traffic. To do so, they infect those machines with different malicious software (from emails, visiting unprotected sites and more) and create so-called botnets – hijacked devices ready to be used when it is time for the attack. There are even markets for botnets, where you can buy an attack on a website of your choice.

The Consequences of DDoS attack

Experiencing such a harmful threat is highly unpleasant and can have a huge negative impact. Some of the possible outcomes of a successful attack include:

• Operational Disruption: One of the immediate consequences of a successful DDoS attack is the disruption of normal operations. Websites become sluggish or entirely inaccessible, leading to frustrated users, decreased productivity, and financial losses. E-commerce platforms, financial institutions, and online services are especially vulnerable, as downtime translates directly into revenue loss and damage to customer trust.
• Financial Loss: DDoS attacks can cause severe financial harm. Businesses may face not only the direct costs of mitigating the attack and restoring services but also indirect costs associated with reputational damage and lost customers. The financial damage can lead to legal consequences, especially if sensitive client information is compromised during the attack.
• Reputational Damage: Trust is a delicate matter in the digital space, and a DDoS attack can destroy it instantly. When customers cannot access services or experience disruptions, they may lose confidence in the affected organization and its ability to protect their interests. Rebuilding a reputation can be a long and difficult process.

How long does a DDoS attack last?

The duration of a DDoS attack can vary significantly based on the resources available to the attackers and the defensive measures of the target. DDoS attacks can last from a few minutes to several weeks. On average, however, most DDoS attacks last for around 24 hours, though some intense attacks can go on for days or even weeks.

Short-duration attacks can be a part of a coordinated strategy where attackers test a target’s vulnerabilities with brief bursts, estimating the response and preparedness of the target’s systems. These “hit-and-run” style attacks can cause considerable disruption in a short time, particularly if they target time-sensitive operations like financial transactions or sales events.

Prolonged DDoS attacks typically aim to exhaust the target’s resources or force them to pay a ransom in exchange for stopping the attack. Long-term attacks can be devastating as they may prevent an organization from functioning entirely, leading to major operational and financial issues.

Preparedness and robust DDoS protection are essential to mitigate the effects of both short and prolonged attacks.

Which industries are being targeted and why?

Certain industries are more frequently targeted by DDoS attacks due to their high online activity, competitive nature, and dependence on continuous uptime. Here are some of the industries most affected and why they are popular targets:

• Financial Services and Banking: Financial institutions are high-value targets due to their critical role in managing and securing funds and customer data. Attackers may aim to disrupt operations, damage reputation, or extort these institutions for ransom. A successful attack on a bank can lead to significant financial loss, operational chaos, and damage to customer trust.
• E-commerce and Retail: Online retail is another major target, especially during peak shopping seasons like Black Friday and holidays. Attacks during these times can severely impact sales revenue, as website downtime directly translates to lost customers and sales.
• Government and Public Sector: Government websites, especially those related to public communication, law enforcement, and emergency services, are frequent targets. These attacks may be politically motivated, intending to disrupt public access to information. Governments are also targeted to disrupt official communication channels.
• Gaming and Entertainment: The gaming industry is particularly vulnerable, as users expect real-time access and responsiveness. Gamers often participate in competitive or time-sensitive events where even short downtimes can lead to significant frustration and financial loss for companies. DDoS attacks are frequently employed to disrupt gaming servers.
• Media and News Websites: News outlets and media websites are also prime targets. Hacktivists may use DDoS attacks to silence certain news outlets or delay the publication of specific content. Attacks on these sites can reduce public access to information, potentially affecting the narrative on important topics.

How to prevent a DDoS attack and stay safe?

The cyber-criminals can make a vast network of botnets, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be protected. ClouDNS provides you two options to stay away from DDoS troubles.

You can choose and subscribe for a DDoS protected DNS.

All plans provide unlimited Layer 3-7 DDoS Protection. Whichever you pick from them, you will be able to use 4 DDoS protected DNS servers, 50+ Anycast locations and unlimited DNS queries. For big companies, we recommend our DDoS Protection L subscription with 400 DNS zones that you can manage.

DDoS Protected Plans

Or you can use a Secondary DNS as a backup DNS, so you always have a backup copy of your DNS records.

It adds resilience, reduce the outage periods by answering requests even if the Master is down.

Conclusion

The more extensive your DNS network is, the better. The massive traffic from the attackers can be distributed between your servers in the different locations, and it will ease the load. Don’t forget that modern DDoS attacks target different communication layers, so you will need intelligent DDoS protection to respond fast and accurately. 

To be safe, always choose quality DNS service provider like ClouDNS.

The post DDoS attacks and how to protect ourselves appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

What is TCP/IP?

TCP and IP are two different communication protocols that complement each other’s functionality.

The Internet protocol or IP delivers (routes and addresses) data packets between a source (device or application) and their destination. It makes sure that those packets arrive at the right destination. It defines the rules and formats for applications and devices to communicate and exchange those data packets on a specific network or across different connected networks. 

The transmission control protocol or TCP organizes data in a specific manner to protect them while exchanged between a client and a server. It’s a very used protocol on networks by all types of devices and applications. TCP protects data’s integrity from the sending and all the way to their delivery.

The development of these protocols (TCP/IP) happened in the 1970s. In that decade, the ARPANET became really popular, which motivated the creation of more networks to connect different organizations. Since those networks used a different protocol to send data back and forth, they could not communicate among them. The creation of a technology that could work as an intermediary to allow such communication became a need. 

The combination of TCP and IP and its official adoption as the standard protocol -in 1983-for ARPANET (Internet’s predecessor) was the solution. No matter what other protocols networks used, if they supported TCP/IP, they could communicate with all the TCP/IP networks that existed.

The two technologies, TCP and IP, became the technical base for the modern Internet to operate and grow. Actually, here the word Internet emerged, meaning “an interconnected network of networks”.

How does it work?

IP protocol works through different rules and resources, like the IP addresses. To connect to the Internet, domains and devices get a unique IP address to be identified and allowed to communicate (exchange data) with other connected devices. 

Data travel across networks separated into pieces (packets). Every piece gets IP information (IP address) attached for routers to read it and send the packet to the correct destination. Once there, the way for those packets to be handle will depend on the kind of protocol (commonly TCP or UDP) combined with the IP to transport them.

IP is a connectionless protocol. All data packets are just addressed, routed, and delivered without existing acknowledgment from the destination to the source. This lack is resolved through the Transmission Control Protocol. 

TCP secures the travel and delivery of data packets across networks through a specific process. To start, a connection between the source and the destination is required, even before the transmission of data begins. This, because TCP is a connection-oriented protocol. To work properly, it needs to guarantee this active connection until the sending and receiving of data get completed.

When the communication begins, TCP takes the sender’s messages and chops them into packets. To protect messages’ integrity, TCP numbers every packet. Then packets are ready to go to the IP layer for being transported. They will be dispatched to travel around different routers and gateways of the network to reach their destination. No matter all the packets are part of the same message, they can have different routes to arrive at the same destination.

Once they all hit their destination, TCP proceeds to re-build the message by putting all their pieces (packets) together again to make a proper delivery. 

This ideal scenario can be affected if networks face issues. Data packets could get lost in transit, duplicated, or disordered. The advantage is TCP’s functionality can detect such problems and fix them. The protocol can ask the lost packets to be re-sent to organize them again in the correct order. In case messages can’t be delivered, this is reported to the sender (source).

As you see, the Internet is a packet-switched network. All data are chopped into packets that are dispatched through lots of different routes simultaneously. When they finally hit their destination, they get re-built by TCP. And IP is in charge of the packets to be sent to the correct destination.

TCP/IP layers

TCP/IP’s most updated model includes the following four layers. All collaborate for the same purpose, the transmission of data.

• Application layer. This is the top layer, and it supplies an interface for applications and network services to communicate. It identifies participants involved in a communication, defines the access to the network’s resources, and the rules for application protocols and transport services interaction. Application layer includes all the higher-level protocols like DNS, HTTP, SSH, FTP, SNMP, SMTP, DHCP, etc.
• Transport layer. It defines the amount of data and the rate for transporting data correctly. It receives messages from the application layer, divides them into pieces, transports them, re-builds them following the proper sequence, and solves possible issues to guarantee their integrity and proper delivery. TCP operates in this layer.
• Internet layer. The internet layer, also known as the IP or network layer (not to be confused with the network access layer), is in charge of sending packets and ensuring that data is transferred as precisely as possible. As it controls the direction and pace of traffic, it is somewhat similar to a traffic controller on a road. Additionally, it supplies the procedural steps and functionalities for transferring data sequences. This layer’s protocols include IPv4, IPv6, ICMP, and ARP.
• Network access layer: The OSI model’s data link layer and physical layer are combined to form the network access layer. It outlines the process through which data is actually transferred over the network. It also covers how hardware components that physically interact with a network, such as twisted-pair copper wire, optical fiber, and coaxial cable, transmit data via optical or electrical means. The network access layer is the bottom layer in the TCP/IP model.

Understanding the TCP Handshake process

The TCP handshake process is the key to establishing a reliable connection between two devices. Known as the “three-way handshake,” this method ensures that both the sender and receiver are ready for communication before any data is transmitted. Here’s how it works step-by-step:

1. SYN (Synchronization): The process begins when the client sends a SYN packet to the server, indicating a request to start communication. This packet also contains an initial sequence number, allowing the client to mark the starting point for data transmission.

What SYN flood attack is?

2. SYN-ACK (Acknowledgment of Synchronization): The server responds with a SYN-ACK packet, acknowledging the client’s request and including its own sequence number. This signals that the server is ready to receive data and has marked its starting point for tracking data segments.
3. ACK (Final Acknowledgment): The client sends an ACK packet back to the server, acknowledging the server’s response. This final step completes the handshake, and a stable connection is established, allowing data exchange to begin.

What is the difference between TCP and IP?

TCP and IP are two different computer network protocols. Each function in the data transmission process distinguishes TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) from IP (Internet Protocol). Using IP, you may find out where data is sent (your device has an IP address). Once that IP address has been discovered, TCP guarantees accurate data delivery. The pair make up the TCP/IP protocol suite.

In other words, TCP sends and receives mail while IP sorts it. Other protocols, such as UDP (User Datagram Protocol), can transfer data within the IP system without the usage of TCP, even though the two protocols are typically regarded as a pair. But for TCP to deliver data, it needs an IP address. So another distinction between IP and TCP is this.

How to find your TCP/IP address?

To find your TCP/IP address, you can use simple methods for both your public and private IP addresses. Your public IP address, which identifies your device on the internet, can be easily found by searching “What is my IP address” in most search engines. This method displays the IP address assigned to your network by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

For your private IP address, which is used within your local network, the process varies slightly depending on your device:

1. On Windows: Open the Command Prompt and type ipconfig. Your IP address will be listed under the appropriate network adapter as the IPv4 Address.
2. On macOS: Go to System Preferences, select Network, and choose the network you’re connected to. Your IP address will be displayed there.
3. On Linux: Open the Terminal. You can find your IP address by typing ifconfig for older distributions or ip addr for newer ones. Your IP address will be listed under the relevant network interface. 
4. On mobile devices: Go to your Wi-Fi settings. Depending on your device, you may need to tap on the network you’re connected to see details like the IP address.

For TCP ports, determining which ports are being used by your device typically involves more technical steps. You can use network utilities or command-line tools to list active ports. These tools can help you identify which ports are open and in use, which is particularly useful for network troubleshooting or configuring firewall settings.

Remember, knowing your TCP/IP address is crucial for various network tasks, from setting up your home network to troubleshooting connectivity issues.

Are my data packets secure?

The answer is no. Why? When packets are sent between devices, they are highly susceptible to being intercepted by others. So, that’s why it’s better to utilize encryption and stay away from public Wi-Fi networks when transmitting messages that need to remain secret. But unfortunately, this is sometimes not enough, which is why you need to take other actions. Here’s what they are:

1. Use Monitoring service

Systematically monitoring your network for any unusual activity. This reduces the exposure gap you have to cyberattacks. Additionally, TCP monitoring, which is a feature of the Monitoring service, uses a highly specialized protocol to examine connectivity and find communication problems on network machines. As a result, it can quickly identify issues and alert you.

2. VPN

A VPN is a great way to guarantee that your data is securely encrypted and that your packets are safeguarded throughout network traffic. A VPN can be manually configured or purchased. Furthermore, VPN comes with numerous additional advantages. For example, website unblocking, location hiding, and restricting the pages you browse from being seen by your ISP (Internet Service Provider).

3. Employ HTTPS protocols

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), the prefix for encrypted websites, denotes the security of user activity there. Websites that begin with “HTTP” are unable to provide the same level of protection. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connections are indicated by the “s” in HTTPS, which stands for secure. Doing this guarantees, the data is encrypted before being delivered to a server. Therefore, to prevent packet sniffing, it is preferable only to visit websites that start with “HTTPS.”

HTTP vs HTTPS: Why every website needs HTTPS today

4. Make use of Private DNS 

Another important way to secure your data is to use Private DNS. Nowadays, using Public DNS has a lot of dangers. With Private DNS, you will be more secure against cyberattacks. Why? Because you can use Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS). These protocols encrypt any DNS queries sent out, and DNS over these protocols is known as DoH (DNS over HTTPS) and DoT (DNS over TLS).

Advantages of TCP/IP

• It allows connecting different kinds of devices.
• It makes possible cross-platform communications among diverse networks. 
• It supports different protocols for routing.
• It offers high possibilities of scalability. You can add networks without causing trouble. 
• It supplies IP addresses to devices for identifying them.
• It’s independent of the operating system.
• It’s an open protocol. No one owns it. Everybody can use it.
• It facilitates reliable communication through data packet retransmission in case of loss, ensuring data integrity.
• It offers robust error detection and correction capabilities, enhancing data transmission reliability.

Disadvantages of TCP/IP

• To replace protocols on TCP/IP is not simple.
• It doesn’t define clearly the concepts of services, protocols, and interfaces. It can be difficult to assign a category to new technologies included in modern networks.
• It works for wide networks. It’s not suitable for small ones (PAN or LAN).
• Susceptible to security vulnerabilities if not properly secured, making encryption and other security measures essential.

TCP vs UDP

There are clear differences between the transmission control protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

• TCP is connection-oriented, while UDP is connectionless. TCP requires an active connection to start and complete the data transmission, while UDP does not.
• TCP can recover lost packets by requiring retransmission. UDP can’t recover them.
• TCP is much slower than UDP because its process involves verification in almost every step. To guarantee the connection is active and the source ready to receive a message, to confirm delivery, etc. UDP only sends, avoiding those confirmation steps.
• TCP protects packets’ integrity efficiently. To protect this is not UDP’s strength. Its mechanism to check integrity (checksum) is less precise.

An Overview of TCP Monitoring vs UDP Monitoring

• TCP delivers ordered messages (by reassembling them based on a numerical sequence). UDP doesn’t offer this function.
• TCP guarantees the data delivery to their recipient. UDP doesn’t. 
• TCP detects and fixes possible errors better. It also supplies confirmation of delivery or reports the problem if it’s not possible to deliver. The UDP’s mechanism for error detection (checksum) is simpler and limited. It doesn’t confirm or inform about the delivery.
• TCP’s speed doesn’t solve latency. UDP really does it.
• TCP doesn’t support broadcast, while UDP really does since it does not require response or confirmation.
• The efficiency of TCP makes it ideal for applications that demand full integrity of data, zero loss (HTTP, FTP, IMAP, SSH, SMTP).
• UDP works very well for applications that require high speed and can afford data loss. Think about real-time applications like live video streaming, voice-over IP or online gaming.

Why does DNS use UDP?

TCP vs HTTP

The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) also differ between them. 

• TCP is used to set communication or a session between two machines (client and server). In contrast, HTTP is used for accessing data of webpages and accessing content (websites) from a web server. It’s a client-server protocol. Requests begin with the recipient, like a browser.
• TCP is a data transfer protocol. HTTP uses TCP for data transfer.
• TCP uses IP addresses, while HTTP uses hyperlinks, also known as URLs. 
• TCP is connected-oriented, while HTTP is stateless but not sessionless.
• TCP needs authentication (TCP-AO). HTTP does not.
• TCP process involves a three-way handshake, and this takes some time. HTTP is one-way communication. TCP is slower than HTTP.
• TCP uses different ports (80, 8000, 8080, etc.). HTTP usually uses the 80 port.

Conclusion

There are different protocols, and understanding their potential is basic to choose the one that better suits your network’s needs. In many cases, these technologies compliment others. TCP, independently and combined with IP, is an efficient protocol with useful functionality for the Internet and networks in general. Try them and get the best out of them!

The post TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) – What is it, and how does it work?  appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

Domain name explained

The domain name is a unique identifier that is utilized for accessing websites. Thanks to the Domain Name System (DNS) – a hierarchical naming system that translates domain names into IP addresses, users can connect to websites using domain names. Compared to IP addresses, domain names are very easy to remember for regular users. 

The structure of a domain name, starting from left to right, is the following: 

• Subdomain: It is located on the left side of a secondary domain and serves as an extension to the primary domain. A subdomain, such as blog.site.com, represents a separate website section. It should be noted that not every domain has a subdomain.
• Second-Level Domain: It is positioned in the middle of a domain name and is usually the most memorable part of the domain structure. People commonly use their personal or business names.
• Top-Level Domain (TLD): It is the extension at the very end of the domain name, such as .com or .net.

The complete version of a domain name, also known as the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), also includes the hostname.

Now that you know more about domain names and the position of the TLD (Top-Level Domain), let’s explain a little bit more about what it actually is.

What does TLD stand for?

The short acronym TLD stands for Top-Level Domain and represents the last part of the domain name, located after the last dot. Also known as domain extensions, TLDs can help to recognize some aspects of a website, such as its purpose or geographical area.

In the Domain Name System (DNS) hierarchy, the TLD (Top-Level Domain) defines the first stop after the Root zone. Additionally, it has an extremely vital role in the DNS lookup process (DNS resolution). When a user types a domain name into their browser, like example.net, the Recursive DNS server searches the corresponding IP address by communicating with many servers, including the TLD server. In this case, the TLD is .net, so the Recursive DNS server will contact the TLD server responsible for all domains with the extension .net. Then the search continues until the Recursive DNS server gets the requested IP address from the Authoritative DNS server of example.net.

The Evolution of TLDs

In the early days of the Internet, there were only several TLDs, and securing a .com domain was the ultimate goal for businesses looking to establish an online presence. However, as the Internet expanded, the demand for domain names grew as well. That led to the introduction of a more diverse range of TLDs.

The introduction of new gTLDs (generic top-level domains) has been a game-changer. These gTLDs are more specific and offer a wider collection of choices for domain names. Some popular gTLDs include .app, .blog, .guru, .tech, and .io, to name just a few. These new gTLDs have opened up a world of creative possibilities for domain names and allow businesses and individuals to craft web addresses that are more relevant to their specific niche.

Types of TLDs

There are several main types of TLD (Top-Level Domain).

Generic Top-level Domains (gTLD)

They are the most popular TLDs, and they can serve so many different purposes. Here are some of the most popular generic TLDs:

• .com – At present days, it’s the most widely used TLD. Yet, originally it was used for commercial sites. 
• .net – At first, it was utilized by businesses working with networking technology. Currently, all sorts of organizations and companies benefit from it.
• .org – It comes from “organization,” and that is why it is very suitable for many nonprofit associations.
• .tech – A very suitable and preferred choice for tech companies.
• .biz – A great extension of all kinds of businesses.

Choose your Generic or Country TLD from ClouDNS

Country Code Top-level Domains (ccTLD)

The ccTLDs illustrate different countries and geographical areas. They are usually two-letter codes specified by ISO 3166-1 alpha 2. An interesting fact is that there are more than 300 ccTLDs in the IANA’s list. The reason for that is simple ccTLDs can also illustrate sovereign states and dependent territories. Here are several examples of popular ccTLDs:

• .us – United States
• .ca – Canada
• .de – Germany
• .fr – France
• .cn – China
• .es – Spain

Sponsored Top-level Domains (sTLD)

Sponsored Top-Level Domains, according to the name, are proposed and supervised by private organizations. Usually, these entities are businesses, government agencies, and different organized groups.

The Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLD) list only contains a short number of alternatives. Back in the day, such types of TLDs were only .edu, .gov, and .mil. Yet, in recent years have been created new Sponsored Top-Level Domains and their number has increased. 

Here are some of the most popular sTLDs:

• .gov – for United States governmental agencies
• .edu – for higher educational organizations
• .mil – for usage by the US military
• .museum – for museum institutions
• .travel – for travel industry companies

Infrastructure Top-Level Domain (ARPA)

The Infrastructure Top-Level Domain is a special category that actually includes just one single TLD, which is the Address and Routing Parameter Area (ARPA). In addition, IANA directly manages the domain extension .arpa for the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) under the guidance of the Internet Architecture Board (IAB). It is utilized only for technical infrastructure purposes.

Test Top-Level Domains (tTLD)

The Test Top-Level Domains, also known as tTLD, are extensions reserved for local testing and documentation objectives only. Therefore, they can not be established in the global Domain Name System (DNS).

Here are the four tTLDs:

• .test – reserved for testing various scenarios or software
• .localhost – used for testing local networks.

What is Localhost (IP 127.0.0.1)?

• .example – dedicated for placeholders and documentation objectives
• .invalid – displays invalid domain names

Who’s accountable for managing TLDs?

ICANN is responsible for managing the TLDs. The short acronym stands for Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which is actually a non-profit organization. That is possible thanks to a division of ICANN known as IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority).

In addition, ICANN/IANA delegates some of the responsibilities for certain Top-Level Domains to other organizations.

How to choose the right TLD for you?

Choosing a TLD could sometimes be overwhelming. So here are a little bit more details and tips that will help you make your decision more effortlessly.

• Choose a TLD that corresponds to your business characteristics.
• Keep it short. That way, you make it clear and concise, and your visitors don’t get confused when writing your domain name into their browsers.
• Check availability. The combination of your SLD and your chosen TLD could be already taken.
• Target your market. Choose a specific ccTLD, in case you want to focus on a precise county.
• Exact match with your brand. Make sure to register a domain name that is not misspelled. That would confuse your visitors.
• Popular TLDs, like .com, .org, net, and .info, are usually considered more trustworthy by regular users. 
• Consider new gTLDs. By selecting a newer TLD, you can distinguish your business from opponents. Additionally, some of them help you create amazing domain names. For example, there are industry TLDs like .film, .press, .digital, and more. 

Why TLDs Matter?

When it comes to establishing a web presence, your choice of a Top-Level Domain (TLD) isn’t just a matter of aesthetics. It’s a strategic decision that can significantly impact your online identity. 

Top Level Domains play a crucial role in defining the purpose, scope, and geographic relevance of your website. They help your visitors understand the nature of your online presence. For instance, a .com TLD traditionally signifies a commercial website, while .org often indicates a nonprofit organization.

We’ll also discuss how TLDs influence search engine optimization (SEO) and user trust. Understanding the importance of Top Level Domains can help you make an informed choice that aligns with your brand, target audience, and marketing goals. 

The Impact of TLDs on SEO

The choice of TLD can impact your website’s search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. While it’s true that Google’s algorithms treat all TLDs equally, user behavior can differ depending on the domain extension. Here’s how your Top Level Domain can influence SEO:

• Credibility and Trust: Traditional TLDs like .com, .org, and .net are often associated with credibility and trust. Users tend to trust websites with these domain extensions more, which can indirectly affect your SEO.
• Keyword Relevance: If you include relevant keywords in your domain name, they can contribute to your SEO efforts. For instance, if you run a plumbing business, a domain like “www.yourplumbingexperts.com” can help your website rank higher for plumbing-related keywords.
• Geotargeting: Country code TLDs (ccTLDs) can help your website rank well in local searches. If you’re a local business, using a ccTLD can be beneficial for your SEO in your target region.
• Niche Relevance: Using a domain extension that is relevant to your niche can signal to both users and search engines that your website is focused on a specific topic, potentially improving your rankings for related keywords.

It’s important to mention that while the choice of TLD can have an impact on SEO indirectly, it is just one of many factors. High-quality content, backlinks, website speed, and mobile-friendliness still play more critical roles in your website’s ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs).

The Importance of TLD in Branding

Top-Level Domains (TLDs) play a crucial role in branding by shaping the first impression of a website and influencing user perception. Traditional TLDs like .com, .org, and .gov are widely recognized and associated with established, reputable organizations. Users often perceive sites with these TLDs as more credible, which can reinforce brand identity. For nonprofits, the .org TLD is often preferred because it signals authenticity and a mission-driven focus, while government and educational institutions use .gov and .edu, respectively, to communicate authority and reliability. 

Newer, industry-specific TLDs like .tech, .store, and .design allow businesses to communicate their niche directly through their domain, making them instantly recognizable to targeted audiences. Selecting the right TLD is essential as it communicates brand credibility, relevance, and industry focus, which can enhance customer trust and reinforce the brand message.

Future Trends in TLDs: What’s on the Horizon?

The future of Top-Level Domains (TLDs) points toward increased diversity, personalization, and regional relevance. With thousands of TLD options now available, businesses and individuals are looking beyond traditional options like .com to more unique and memorable TLDs that better reflect their brand identity. We can expect a continued rise in specialized TLDs that cater to niches like .tech, .shop, and .media, enabling brands to create highly specific web addresses that stand out in search results and user memory while also making their purpose immediately clear to users.

Geographic and regional TLDs are also expected to see more growth. TLDs like .nyc, .paris, and .tokyo are gaining popularity as businesses aim to establish local relevance. These TLDs support geotargeting in SEO strategies and appeal to users who seek local services, thus building brand trust and visibility within specific regions.

Another significant trend is the focus on cybersecurity. New TLDs with enhanced security protocols, such as .bank and .insurance, are on the rise, providing users with added assurance. This shift reflects a broader trend of using TLDs to express trustworthiness and enhance user confidence in online interactions.

Finally, the rise of new technologies, including blockchain, has introduced decentralized domains. These TLDs operate outside traditional ICANN regulations, allowing users more control over their digital presence without intermediaries. While still experimental, this trend hints at a future where decentralized domains could play a larger role as blockchain technology advances.

Conclusion

The Top-Level Domain (TLD) is very important and provides details about your business purpose or location. Additionally, it helps you reach the desired market. That is why it is crucial to confuse your audience. There are lots of different types of TLDs. So, make sure to choose one that better suits your needs.

The post What is TLD? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

What does SEO (Search Engine Optimization) mean?

The SEO abbreviation stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it is the process of improving your website so that it can rank better on search engines’ results. The search engines like Google, Bing, Baidu, Yahoo, and Yandex create their own algorithms based on factors like content quality, keywords used, loading speed, and others to evaluate sites and rank them on their search pages in their free results. They usually have paid results in the beginning and free results after that. Site owners compete for the free results by constantly improving many aspects of their sites.

Some of the top SEO factors that search engines take into consideration are:

• Security – does the site uses a TLS certificate?
• Loading speed – how fast do the domain and all the elements of the site load?
• Mobile-friendliness – how well is it optimized for mobile (smartphone) use?
• Content quality – how well are the texts and articles written, and how well are the keywords selected?
• Crawlability – how easy is it for search engine bots to search the content on the site?
• Website structure – is there a good structure of menus, categories, articles, etc.?
• Backlinks – are the important sites that lead to the particular site?
• User experience – how good is the total experience for the visitors of the site?

The algorithms are not public, but SEO specialists have already understood many of the factors that strongly improve a site’s ranking. Those that we just mentioned are vital for getting a good position.

What is DNS (Domain Name System)?

Domain Name System, or DNS for short, is a decentralized hierarchical structure that links domain names (computers, services, resources, etc.) to their IP addresses (IPv4 or IPv6 addresses). It also links much more additional information information.

People like to compare it to a phonebook in which they can search for domain names like Wikipedia.org and find the IP addresses behind them without remembering long strings of numbers like 91.198.174.192 or 2620:0:862:ed1a::1. It makes everything easier both for humans and machines.

DNS was created in 1983 by Paul Mockapetris from the Internet Engineering Task Force – IETF. The main purpose of the DNS was to change the ever-growing HOSTS.TXT file that people needed to use to find hosts (computers) and to pave the road to the modern interconnected network called the Internet that was just getting popular at that time.

DNS history. When and why was DNS created?

Every time when somebody requests a new domain, his or her browser or application will perform a DNS query for the domain’s IP address. The request will travel a long way. First, it will visit the highest level of the DNS hierarchy called DNS root servers. Then, they will direct to the correct top-level domain server (TLD), based on the extension of the domain like .com. Finally, the TLD server will point to the corresponding authoritative name server, and finally, that last server can answer the DNS query.

You can see that there are many stops that a DNS query makes.

Does DNS service affect SEO, and how?

There are several ways how DNS could affect SEO results. Some are obvious, and others are not so clear. Let’s explore them one by one.

Site loading speed

The DNS is the first process that happens before a website gets loaded inside the visitors’ browser. As we already mentioned, the DNS resolution process is a long process that will add up to the total time that the visitor experience. There is a bit difference between an average of 20 milliseconds with a good DNS provider from all around the world or 200 milliseconds to 500 milliseconds leaving everything to the domain registrar.

Availability

Experiencing DNS outages often and for a long time most definitely affect your site SEO negatively. If a search bot tries to reach your site and it can’t do it, it will report this event. First, it won’t be able to index newly added pages quickly. Second, it will take a note about general availability that could worsen your site’s position.

DNS providers have multiple features to provide excellent DNS availability that includes: providing multiple name servers, Anycast that uses a single IP address for all of them, DDoS protection, DNS monitor, DNS Failover, and more.

Multiple locations

A DNS provider can offer you multiple points of presence (PoPs) that you can use and set name servers. It will significantly increase the speed for the visitors by shortening the route from them to the name servers. At CLouDNS we have one of the best Anycast DNS networks with 60+ PoPs located on 6 continents. All of our Premium DNS, DDoS Protected DNS and GeoDNS plans include Anycast DNS as well as many more, such as DNSSEC, DNS Failover, Reverse DNS, etc.

DNS migration

If the DNS migration is performed correctly and the proper measures were taken, there should be no feelable difference for the users nor the search engines’ bots. The problem occurs only if the TTL values of the previous DNS records are too high, and those DNS records won’t be deleted from the DNS caches of recursive name servers for long. Until the caches get updates, they will still point to the older address, resulting in downtime.

Changing of the IP address

If you have to change the IP address of your site, this should not negatively impact SEO as long as it is managed properly. Ensure that the transition is seamless by updating DNS records and monitoring performance to maintain high availability and user experience.

Which is the best DNS for me?

Optimizing DNS for SEO

Choosing a Fast DNS Provider

Selecting a reliable and fast DNS provider is crucial for improving your site’s DNS resolution time. Providers with optimized global networks and high response speeds can significantly reduce latency, ensuring faster and more consistent access for users. ClouDNS is a standout option, offering a robust global Anycast network with DDoS-protected DNS servers, DNSSEC for enhanced security, and flexible options like Secondary DNS, making it an ideal choice for high-performance, secure, and SEO-friendly DNS management.

Setting Up CDN and DNS Configuration

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) can be used in conjunction with DNS to improve your site’s loading speed. CDNs store cached versions of your site’s content on servers around the world. By integrating a CDN with your DNS provider, users can load your content from the server closest to them, reducing load times and improving SEO.

How to create your own CDN using DNS

Implementing DNS Prefetching

DNS prefetching is a browser feature that helps pre-resolve domain names that users are likely to click next. By adding the <link rel=”dns-prefetch” href=”//example.com”> tag, you instruct browsers to look up the DNS information for that domain before the user even clicks it, reducing potential latency.

Tip: Use DNS prefetching for external resources on your site, such as analytics, social media, and third-party widgets, to reduce delays.

DNS and International SEO

For websites with international audiences and global services, DNS configuration can impact international SEO strategies. Utilizing country-specific domains (ccTLDs) or regional subdomains helps search engines identify your target audiences. However, misconfigurations can lead to incorrect geotargeting, hurting your rankings in specific regions.

Tip: Use Google Search Console’s geotargeting settings and configure DNS properly to avoid conflicting signals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, DNS plays a pivotal role in enhancing SEO by directly impacting site speed, availability, and overall user experience. With optimized DNS settings, including faster DNS resolution, multiple locations, and proper IP address management, you’re not only improving user satisfaction but also signaling quality to search engines. Investing in a reliable DNS provider ensures smoother site operation and helps your site perform well across global search rankings. To truly benefit from your DNS setup, stay proactive about performance monitoring and consider advanced configurations like DNS prefetching and CDN integration.

The post DNS and SEO: How does DNS service affect SEO? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

What is NTP (Network Time Protocol)?

NTP, or Network Time Protocol, is a protocol designed to synchronize the clocks of computers and devices over a network. Operating across the internet and local networks, NTP adjusts each device’s clock to a universal time standard known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). In doing so, NTP ensures that devices operate on the same, highly accurate time.

This synchronization is crucial in many applications, particularly those that require precise timing. Imagine financial markets without time-synced trades or security protocols that rely on time-based access! The consistency NTP provides prevents these issues, making it an essential component in modern networking.

Why is NTP Important?

Accurate time synchronization affects several critical aspects of network functionality and security. Here are some key reasons NTP is vital:

• Security: Many security protocols, like TLS certificates and Kerberos authentication, depend on accurate time for validation and expiration tracking. Time differences can lead to security risks, causing certificates to be incorrectly marked as invalid or resulting in access being granted or denied incorrectly.
• Data Accuracy: Systems that record data, such as database servers, need synchronized time to maintain data accuracy. When timestamps are inconsistent, it can lead to errors in transaction logs and difficulties in tracking the correct sequence of events.
• Event Coordination: In distributed computing environments, applications running on different machines must coordinate actions precisely. NTP ensures that event logs and activity records across these systems remain accurate and traceable.
• Network Efficiency: Network protocols often rely on time-based operations for functions like timeouts and retries. NTP helps prevent these functions from failing due to time discrepancies, which could otherwise slow down network efficiency and performance.

Brief History

NTP was first developed in the early 1980s by Dr. David Mills at the University of Delaware. Mills created the protocol to address the increasing need for coordinated time across ARPANET-connected systems, the precursor to today’s Internet. Since then, Network Time Protocol has undergone numerous revisions and improvements, adapting to changes in technology and expanding in usage to meet the demands of today’s internet-scale networks.

The evolution of the protocol has led to the current version, NTPv4, which provides greater precision and can operate across IPv4 and IPv6 networks. Its development over the decades has cemented it as a fundamental protocol in networking, securing its place in nearly every server, network device, and system around the globe.

How Does NTP Work?

Network Time Protocol works by connecting devices to a time source, known as an NTP server, which provides accurate time information. Here’s a simple overview of how the protocol functions:

1. Time Sources: NTP servers obtain time data from highly accurate sources, such as atomic clocks or GPS satellites. These sources offer precise UTC time, which serves as the gold standard.
2. Synchronization Process: When a device, or NTP client, requests the time, the NTP server sends the current time back. The client then adjusts its clock based on this response, correcting any drift.
3. Time Calculations and Adjustments: To account for network delays, NTP considers the round-trip delay time, ensuring that each system’s clock is adjusted as precisely as possible.
4. Regular Updates: NTP clients periodically communicate with NTP servers to ensure ongoing accuracy. This continuous checking and adjustment keeps systems synchronized.

NTP Stratum

Network Time Protocol uses a hierarchy of servers, with each level called a “stratum.” This hierarchical model optimizes network load and maintains synchronization accuracy. Stratum levels indicate the “distance” from the original reference clock.

• Stratum 0: The primary sources of accurate time, including atomic clocks and GPS receivers. These are highly precise but generally not connected directly to a network.
• Stratum 1: Servers that connect directly to Stratum 0 sources. These servers provide the highest level of accuracy and are known as primary time servers.
• Stratum 2: These servers receive time updates from Stratum 1 servers. Although they don’t connect directly to primary time sources, they still offer accurate time, typically within milliseconds of Stratum 1.
• Stratum 3 and Lower: The hierarchy continues, with each subsequent stratum taking time from the layer above it. The further down a server is in the hierarchy, the more it depends on upstream sources, resulting in minor accuracy losses with each stratum.

This stratification ensures that load is distributed efficiently across servers while maintaining accuracy, even for lower-stratum devices.

NTP Port

NTP operates using User Datagram Protocol (UDP) on port 123. UDP is a fast, connectionless protocol, making it ideal for NTP’s quick, small time queries. Port 123 is essential to NTP functionality, allowing it to send and receive time data across devices. Firewalls must allow UDP traffic on this port for NTP to work properly, especially in enterprise networks where strict port control is common.

Advantages of NTP

Network Time Protocol offers numerous benefits that make it essential for maintaining time accuracy:

• Precision and Accuracy: NTP can adjust for network delays, ensuring devices are synchronized to within milliseconds.
• Redundancy and Resilience: The hierarchical stratum structure provides multiple layers of fallback, enabling continued time accuracy even if some sources fail.
• Low Bandwidth Requirement: By using small, infrequent data packets, NTP ensures that network resources are preserved while achieving accurate synchronization.
• Wide Compatibility: NTP is compatible with virtually all operating systems and network devices, making it a versatile tool for diverse environments.

Conclusion

The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a powerful and widely adopted solution for achieving accurate time synchronization across networks. By understanding the core principles of this protocol, including its hierarchical stratum structure and reliance on accurate time sources, beginners can see why it is vital for secure and efficient network operations. Its numerous advantages make it a valuable tool for any organization, large or small. 

The post NTP (Network Time Protocol): Ensuring Accurate Time Synchronization for Networks appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

To be more precise, the domain name resolution is a translation process between the domain name that people use while writing in their browsers and the site’s IP addresses. You need the IP address of a site to know where it is located and load it.

A website could have both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and the DNS resolution of a domain name will ask for both of them. The IPv4 address will come in the form of a DNS A record, and the IPv6 will come in a DNS AAAA record.

Let’s get into the details, and see how it works, shall we?

Domain name resolution – Why is it important?

In the world of the Internet, the addresses don’t contain streets and cities. They have numbers and symbols. There are two types of addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. In order to enter a particular website, the user needs to get its IP. Instead of remembering all of the IPs of every website, we simply need to remember the domain name. The domain name is usually not hard to remember, and this makes it easier. When the user types the name of the website, the process of the domain name resolution starts.

So let’s proceed and explain the whole process of DNS resolution.

DNS resolution process

The browser of a user needs to get the IP and sends queries to the name servers. This process involves domain name resolvers. The first answer that your browser will get is the root server, then the TLD (top-level domain). The servers with the TLD of the website you want to visit (com, net, or another) will refer your queries to the next step in searching authoritative servers that know the exact IP address of the domain name. Then the domain name will be resolved.

Let’s breakdown the DNS resolution step-by-step: 

1. A user is typing a domain name like cloudns.net into their browser. The user needs an A or AAAA DNS record to resolve the domain name.
2. If your device’s cache has the IP address of cloudns.net, the domain name resolution will finish here, and the user will be able to open the website. But, if it does not, there will be more steps. The devices keep DNS records for visited sites, depending on the TTL (Time to Live) values of those DNS records. After the time they indicate, they will be deleted, and a new query needs to be performed.
3. If your computer doesn’t have the needed IP address, it will search for the answer by performing a DNS resolution query. The next destination on the way will be the recursive DNS servers of the internet services provider. They also keep a cache with DNS records of domain names that users have accessed. If the desired site’s DNS records are still there, the user will get an answer to its query and access the site. If not, there will be a series of interactive DNS queries to find the answer.
4. If the domain name resolution didn’t finish with the previous step, the recursive nameserver would search for the answer. The next step will be to ask the Root server, which is indicated with a “.” sign after the TLD (top-level domain). The Root server does not have an answer about the exact domain name, but it will provide one for the part it is responsible for – it will indicate all the nameservers for the TLD that we asked for. In our case, it will show the nameservers of .net.
5. The TLD DNS servers will have the answer of which exactly are the authoritative nameservers for the domain you are searching. The TLD servers of .net will have that information for all of the domain names that finish with .net. They will return that answer so the query can continue.
6. Now that we know where the authoritative nameserver of the domain name we want is, we can ask and get the A and AAAA records to understand the site’s IP address.
7. The Authoritative nameservers of the domain name will provide the DNS records, the DNS resolution will be made. The recursive nameserver of our ISP and our device will both save the DNS records that we obtained based on their TTL values. That way, if we soon want to visit the site again, we will save time and access the site faster.
8. Visit the site. Now with the DNS record already obtained, the user can access the site.

Do we need to care about it?

The answer is yes! For humans, the DNS resolution process is essential. And if something goes wrong, the use of the Internet by regular users would be extremely difficult. 

So we should be concerned about DNS resolution for two reasons:

1. The first one is the importance of the speed. When a user accesses your website, the DNS resolution is the first thing that happens. If your page takes too long to load and access, the user will probably leave. That’s why this process needs to be performed fast.
2. The second one is the availability. The nameserver in charge of handling your domain name needs to be trustworthy. A backup DNS service is a great technique to guarantee that your domain is always reachable by your customers.

What to do if DNS resolution is not working?

1. Check your internet connection. Many times when the domain name resolution fails, the main reason is that you are not connected to the Internet. Check your connectivity and restart your router.

2. Verify the problem is DNS-related. Before diving into DNS-specific solutions, confirm that the issue isn’t related to general connectivity. Try accessing the site with its IP address instead of its domain name. If this works, the problem likely lies with DNS resolution.

3. Obtain DNS server address automatically. Go to the network adapter and open the properties. Then search for the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and open its properties. From there, you can click on Obtain DNS server address automatically. This will allow your computer to receive the DNS settings from the DHCP server.

4. Release and then renew the DHCP IP address. There could be an IP address conflict because of the DHCP server. What you can do as a user is to give up the IP address lease. You can do that with a command from the Command Prompt:

ipconfig /release

After that, you can renew your IP address with the following:

ipconfig /renew

Now your connectivity should be restored.

5. Flush the DNS cache of your device. You can do that by accessing the Command Prompt (as an administrator) and performing the following command:

• On Windows, open Command Prompt and type: ipconfig /flushdns
• On macOS, open Terminal and type: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
• On Linux, the command varies by distribution, but a common one is: sudo systemctl restart nscd

If you had a previous IP address of a domain that is no longer available, now you have deleted it. The device performs a DNS resolution again, and it should get the new IP address.

6. Disable any VPNs or proxies. VPNs and proxies can redirect your network traffic through different servers, which may cause DNS resolution issues. Try disabling them to see if that resolves the issue.

7. Check your hosts file. The hosts file on your computer can override DNS and manually map domain names to IP addresses. Ensure there are no incorrect entries that could be causing conflicts.

• On Windows, this file is located at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
• On macOS and Linux, it’s at /etc/hosts

8. Update your DNS records. If you’re managing a domain and have recently changed DNS records, it might just be a matter of waiting. DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours.

9. The last resort is to contact your ISP and tell them the problem. There is a chance that it is related to its equipment or software, and it can fix it. Or maybe it is blocking some websites on purpose. You can at least try to find an answer from it.

DNS Monitoring: Keeping Resolution on Track

DNS resolution is a silent yet critical driver of the digital world, translating domain names into IP addresses. DNS monitoring services amplify this process’s reliability by offering continuous oversight. These services rapidly identify and help rectify resolution delays or failures, ensuring users can always reach their online destinations.

DNS monitoring checks are essential in validating the seamless operation of DNS resolution, crucial for uninterrupted internet navigation. By querying specific hostnames against expected responses, these checks can swiftly flag a DNS resolution process as operational (UP) or problematic (DOWN).

For example, monitoring might run a command like:

If the response matches the expected IP, the DNS is considered healthy. This proactive measure ensures DNS performance remains robust, which is vital for network reliability and the overall user experience.

In the event of discrepancies, debugging tools, including Traceroute, assist in tracing the issue to its source, allowing for quick resolution. Thus, integrating DNS monitoring checks is a strategic move to bolster network stability and maintain consistent service delivery.

Why do we need recursive servers?

Theoretically, authoritative nameservers are enough to keep the DNS resolution process running. You can think that the only kind of DNS servers we need is authoritative, but imagine how much load they will need to take if all the complete queries get to them.

For decreasing the load and increasing the speed, there are recursive servers (DNS resolvers) that keep the DNS records with the information needed to access a particular website for a defined period of time. This time is called TTL (time to live), and the process is named DNS cache. There are such recursive servers in the internet service providers that keep the information for many websites for the period of time defined by the TTL.

To make it easier to imagine, it generally functions as a name server, acting as a go-between the customer and the authoritative DNS server. However, without it, you won’t be able to access any website that you want to reach on.

Why DNS Resolution Times Matter and How to Improve Them

DNS resolution times are a key factor in overall website performance, as they determine how quickly a user can begin accessing a webpage. If this process takes too long, it can significantly delay page load time, creating a poor user experience. Delays have a negative impact on e-commerce and business sites, where faster loading speeds directly affect sales and user engagement.

Several factors influence DNS resolution speed are the following:

• Server Proximity: The closer the authoritative DNS server is to the user, the faster the response. Many DNS providers use Anycast routing, which directs queries to the nearest server, reducing latency and speeding up resolution times.
• Caching Efficiency: When DNS records are cached effectively, repeat queries can be answered instantly from the cache, avoiding the need for a full DNS lookup. Time to Live (TTL) values determine caching duration – longer TTLs reduce query frequency for stable sites, while shorter TTLs allow for more frequent updates.
• DNS Provider Choice: A reliable, high-performance DNS provider often has better infrastructure and caching policies, as well as multiple server locations worldwide, which can reduce resolution time. Providers typically offer faster, more secure DNS resolution than ISP default options.

How DNS Resolution Works with IPv4 and IPv6 Addresses

When domain resolution occurs, it can return either IPv4 or IPv6 addresses or both, depending on the server’s configuration and the client’s capability to use either protocol. This flexibility ensures that DNS can adapt to the gradual transition from IPv4 to IPv6, supporting both legacy systems and modern networks.

The two address types serve distinct purposes:

• IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4): IPv4 is the older protocol that uses 32-bit addresses, resulting in about 4.3 billion unique IPs. DNS A records are responsible for mapping domain names to their corresponding IPv4 addresses. However, with the explosive growth of internet-connected devices, IPv4 addresses are in short supply, which is where IPv6 steps in.
• IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6): IPv6 was developed to provide a vast address space, using 128-bit addresses that allow for 340 undecillion unique IPs. This address space is critical for the future of the internet, as more devices connect daily. DNS AAAA records are responsible for returning IPv6 addresses for a domain. Additionally, the newer version of IP offers benefits beyond capacity, including better routing efficiency and improved security features.

Conclusion

DNS is a very useful system that saves a lot of time and makes our lives easier. After this article, you will know better what happens when you open a web page, how exactly the DNS resolution works, and what it means a domain name resolution.

The post What is Domain Name Resolution? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

What is an HTTP flood attack?

An HTTP flood attack is a form of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack specifically targeting web servers. In this malicious assault, the attacker overwhelms a web server with an enormous volume of HTTP requests, rendering it incapable of handling legitimate user requests. This tactic capitalizes on the stateless nature of the HTTP protocol, allowing for easy forging and amplification of requests. Such attacks can come from a single source or be distributed across multiple locations, making them harder to trace and block. The simplicity of executing these attacks makes them a popular tool among cybercriminals looking to disrupt online services.

How does it work?

Step 1: Request Amplification

HTTP flood attacks exploit the stateless nature of the HTTP protocol, enabling attackers to forge a vast number of seemingly legitimate requests. These requests are often designed to consume server resources disproportionately.

Step 2: Botnet Deployment

Perpetrators commonly utilize botnets, networks of compromised computers, to amplify the scale and impact of the attack. This distributed approach makes it challenging to trace and mitigate the source of the assault.

Step 3: Targeting Specific Vulnerabilities

HTTP flood attacks may exploit vulnerabilities in web server software, operating systems, or specific applications. By pinpointing weaknesses, attackers maximize the efficacy of their assault.

Types of HTTP flood attacks

In the realm of HTTP flood attacks, adversaries deploy a variety of tactics to overwhelm web servers, each with its own distinctive approach.

• GET Floods: GET Floods are a type of HTTP flood attack that targets the HTTP GET method used in web communication. Attackers send a massive number of GET requests to a web server, designed to look like legitimate user interactions, with the aim of overwhelming the server’s resources and capacity to respond. Imagine your website is a popular restaurant, and suddenly, an overwhelming number of customers flood in, each asking for the menu without any intention of placing an order. GET floods operate similarly, bombarding the server with a surge of requests for information, causing chaos and resource exhaustion.

• POST Floods:  POST Floods focus on the HTTP POST method, which is used for sending data to a server. In these attacks, cybercriminals flood the server with numerous POST requests, often containing seemingly valid data submissions. This flood of requests can strain the server’s CPU and memory resources, causing delayed responses or service disruptions. Picture customers storming in and placing orders at an unprecedented rate, without any regard for the kitchen’s capacity. POST floods emulate this scenario by inundating the server with an excessive number of data-submission requests, pushing the server to its limits and potentially causing it to stumble.

Impact of HTTP flood attack

Picture your website as a bustling city during rush hour and an HTTP flood attack as an unexpected surge in traffic causing digital gridlock. This online congestion not only disrupts normal operations but also leads to inevitable downtime and service interruptions as the server contends with an overwhelming influx of requests.

• Downtime and Service Disruption. Think of your website as a bustling city with countless residents seeking information. An HTTP flood attack is like an unexpected traffic jam, bringing the entire city to a standstill. Downtime and service disruption become inevitable as the server struggles to handle the overwhelming surge of requests.
  Suggested article: Understanding the HTTP status codes

• Financial Loss. Just as a shop loses revenue when forced to close unexpectedly, businesses hit by an HTTP flood attack experience financial setbacks. The loss isn’t just in terms of immediate revenue; it’s also about potential future earnings as user trust takes a hit.
• Reputational Damage. Consider the impact on a brand when its flagship store experiences a sudden closure. Similarly, successful HTTP flood attacks can tarnish a website’s reputation, eroding the hard-earned trust of users. Reputational damage extends beyond the immediate attack, affecting long-term relationships with customers.

5 Signs your website is under HTTP flood attack

Early detection of an HTTP flood attack is crucial for effective response. Here are technical indicators that may signal such an attack:

1. Increased HTTP Request Rates: If your web server logs show a sudden and sustained increase in HTTP GET or POST requests, especially from a range of unusual IP addresses, this could indicate an attack. Monitoring tools can be configured to alert administrators to spikes that exceed baseline levels.
2. Increased CPU and Memory Usage: HTTP flood attacks force the server to handle a massive number of requests, leading to unusual CPU and memory consumption. If your server resources are maxing out unexpectedly, this might be a sign of a flood attack.
3. Slow or Non-Responsive Website: A significant HTTP flood attack can slow down your website or make it entirely unresponsive, as the server struggles to handle the load. If your site becomes inaccessible or experiences frequent timeouts, it may be under attack.
4. Log Files Full of Repetitive Requests: When reviewing server logs, you may notice a large volume of similar requests, often with the same IP range, user agent, or request URL. This repetitive pattern is a hallmark of HTTP flood attacks, as attackers often send requests in bursts.
5. Increased Bounce Rate Without Clear Cause: When legitimate users experience a slow or non-responsive website due to an attack, they are more likely to leave. If you see a sudden increase in bounce rate without an obvious reason, an HTTP flood attack may be the culprit.

Preventive measures against HTTP flood attack

Detecting an HTTP flood attack is akin to being the vigilant lifeguard at a crowded beach.

Monitoring service

Just as a lifeguard watches the ocean for irregularities, detecting HTTP flood attacks involves monitoring for abnormal spikes in web traffic. An unexpected surge signals trouble, prompting a swift response to ensure the safety of the online “beach.” With HTTP/HTTPS Monitoring service you will be able to keep track of the performance and availability of websites, web applications, and web services.

Web Application Firewalls (WAFs)

Think of WAFs as the vigilant eye of the lifeguard tower, surveying the digital sea. These firewalls analyze incoming traffic, identifying and blocking any suspicious activity, acting as a proactive defense against potential threats.

DDoS Mitigation Services

There are services specifically designed to protect against DDoS attacks, including HTTP Floods. DDoD Protection services work by diverting traffic through their networks first, filtering out the bad traffic, and only sending the good traffic to your server.

Implement Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)

CDNs distribute your content across multiple, geographically diverse servers, so it’s closer to your users. This not only speeds up content delivery but also means that traffic is spread out and not directed at a single server, making it harder for an HTTP Flood to have an impact. In addition, at ClouDNS you can build your own CDN with our GeoDNS service. With it you can be one layer protected against these malicious attacks. 

How to create your own CDN using DNS

Creating Redundancies

Have a backup plan, or in technical terms, create redundancies. If one server or network component fails under the load, others can take over. This is like having backup generators ready in case the main power supply goes out.

Conclusion

Though HTTP flood attacks present a real and present danger to web servers, the good news is that they are not insurmountable. By staying vigilant, employing a layered security approach, and embracing both reactive and proactive defense strategies, businesses can effectively dampen the impact of these attacks. Ensuring your website’s resilience in the digital ecosystem is key, allowing you to maintain seamless operations and safeguard your digital assets against such disruptive forces.

The post HTTP flood attack – What is it and How to prevent it? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

What is a DDNS (Dynamic DNS)?

DDNS, most commonly known as Dynamic DNS, is an automatic method of refreshing a name server. It can dynamically update DNS records without the need for human interaction. It is extremely useful for updating A and AAAA records when the host has changed its IP address.

Imagine this situation. You have a server in your office, and you are providing some service to your employees. You are using a standard/consumer-grade internet from a typical ISP (Internet service provider). You are getting a temporary IP address that could change the next type you connect or change automatically after some time. To provide a service, you 3 options:

1. A Static IP address that could be expensive.
2. Change the IP address manually every time it changes
3. Automatically update the IP addresses – Dynamic DNS or DDNS!

DDNS is a service that automatically and periodically updates your DNS’s A (IPv4) or AAAA (IPv6) records when your IP address changes. These IP changes are made by your Internet provider.

With DDNS you don’t need to worry about the changes in IP addresses!

In this article, you can find more information about what DNS is!

How does DDNS work?

The DDNS works in the following way: The DDNS client monitors the IP address for changes. When the address changes (which it will if you have a dynamic IP address), the DDNS (or Dynamic DNS) service updates your new IP address.

Let’s get back to the same example from before, you owning a server, connected to the Internet, and want to share service from it. 

This server will be connected to the internal network, and it will communicate with the Internet via NAT (Network Address Translation) router. The NAT router will provide an internal IP address to the server, probably via DHCP. To Make it available externally, we will need to perform port forwarding and get external Port (Portex) and external IP address (IPex). Now the service you want to share is visible with IPex and Portex, and people can use it through the Internet. The problem comes when this IP changes. 

First, you will need to register with a Dynamic DNS provider like us and set up a client software on your server. In the Dynamic DNS settings, you will give a fixed name to this server. Put the IPex, and we need to tell the NAT to automatically update it and send the data to the DNS server.  Inside the NAT’s settings, we will put the data from our Dynamic DNS service provider (our account and password). Now everything is ready. 

Free Dynamic DNS Service!

Why is it useful?

It can be very useful for people who want to host their website, access CCTV cameras, VPN, app or game server from their home computer. It is cheaper than to have a static public IP and by setting up DDNS, you will avoid the need to update all of your records whenever your IP changes manually. Also, a static IP address is not always an option; it depends on your Internet provider.

DDNS is a very flexible option. The way that Dynamic DNS gives a connected device the ability to notify DNS servers to automatically update, alongside the active DNS configuration, IP addresses, configured hostnames and some other information. This saves the need of an administrator who should do the changes.

Common use cases for DDNS

DDNS is a valuable tool in scenarios where devices are assigned dynamic IP addresses. Here are the key use cases:

• Home Servers: If you’re hosting a personal website, game server, or file storage at home, DDNS ensures you can always access your server via a fixed domain name, even if your IP changes regularly.
• Remote Access to Security Cameras: Many people use DDNS to view their home CCTV cameras remotely. Instead of updating the IP address every time it changes, DDNS keeps the connection steady through a permanent domain name.
• VPN and Remote Desktop: Whether for work or personal use, accessing a home or office network remotely via VPN or remote desktop is easier with DDNS, allowing uninterrupted connections despite changing IP addresses.
• IoT and Smart Home Devices: DDNS is often used to manage smart home systems or IoT devices. It ensures that even when your home’s IP changes, you can always reach devices like smart lights, thermostats, and more from any location.
• Game Servers and Media Streaming: Hosting a game or media server at home? DDNS provides consistent access for friends or family to your server, regardless of your ISP changing your IP.

By automating IP updates, DDNS saves you the hassle of manually tracking and updating IP changes, offering convenience and cost savings compared to static IPs.

Benefits

As you can see DDNS is a very convenient solution, and it has different advantages, but the main ones are the following:

Accessibility – You will be able to access your website or server, easily, without being worried. The IP will change, but this won’t stop any of your activities.

Practicality – You don’t need a network administrator to check and reconfigure your settings.

Economic – DDNS makes it cheaper; you won’t have IP address conflict in case you have many addresses, and they are used at the same time.

There are many other advantages, and you are probably thinking about how to start using DDNS. Luckily for you, it is relatively easy to switch to it. You can get a free DDNS service from ClouDNS. We provide it with all our plans, including the entirely free one. Just sign up for a new free account  and start using it.

Configuring Dynamic DNS

With each A and AAAA record, we provide a unique URL, so-called DynURL, when you are using our Dynamic DNS.
You can read the following step by step explanations on how to configure it, depending on your operating system down below.

First for Windows users, regardless of the version you have on your device:

• Dynamic DNS for Windows

Or watch the video tutorial:

If you are a MacOS or Linux user or another type of NIX system, you can follow these instructions:

• Dynamic DNS for Linux, Mac and all types of *NIX systems

Or watch the video tutorial:

If you have multiple Internet providers:

• Dynamic DNS for Linux, Mac and all types of *NIX systems with multiple network interfaces (Internet providers)

And even if you are using the data solutions of Synology, you can still benefit from the DDNS

• DDNS for Synology

With the help of ClouDNS, you can start using DDNS right away. This can help your business or personal project.

So what are you waiting for, start using it today!

The challenge without DDNS

Imagine owning a server that’s pivotal for your business operations. While internally connected, it communicates externally via a Network Address Translation router. Without DDNS:

1. Every time your external IP changes, you risk downtime or inaccessibility.
2. Manual updates are tedious and can lead to errors or oversights.
3. Business operations relying on constant server access might face disruptions.

Conclusion

In a digital era where consistency is king, DDNS stands out as a beacon, ensuring that shifting IP addresses don’t impede server access. As businesses increasingly rely on online operations, services like DDNS aren’t just conveniences—they’re necessities.

The post What is DDNS? How does it work and how to setup DDNS? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

Now let’s see the second word – propagation. To propagate, it means to spread ideas, opinions among people and places (Cambridge Dictionary). So DNS propagation is about spreading the DNS records’ changes through the vast network of DNS name servers.

What is DNS propagation?

It is the time it takes, from updating your DNS records in the Primary Zone in the Authoritative name server, and actually spreading this new information (a new DNS A record that points to a new host (IP address), change in a host and a service, or another) to all of the DNS recursive servers. When you make the changes in your DNS records, they will get instantly updated in the authoritative servers. It will take extra time, for the data, to be modified in all the recursive servers along the way, depending on the TTL values of the DNS records. The recursive servers have cache memory that temporarily stores the data.   

The connection passes through many recursive servers, including those in your internet provider (ISP). All of them have TTL (Time to live) which defines for how long they will keep the DNS cache with the DNS records. The DNS cache exists mostly for load balancing so that it won’t be so heavy on your nameservers and to make the whole process faster.

When a user uses their browser to open a web page for the first time, he or she will send a request all the way to an authoritative server. If it is not for the first time, the request will get an answer on the way in a recursive server, and if the data is still up to date, the user will get his answer quicker.

Basically, the DNS propagation depends on the TTL in the DNS records.

How much time does DNS propagation usually take?

The DNS propagation could take 48 hours or even 72 hours. It depends on the TTL values, and when was the last time your recursive DNS servers got their update, the name servers at TLD level, and the recursive servers at the ISPs. A recursive server won’t search for updates until the DNS records that it has in the cache memory expire.

Why the DNS propagation takes so long? 

4 factors really affect the DNS propagation speed:

1. The domain name registrar. When you buy a domain name, you get it from a domain name registrar. You will get a domain name with the TLD (top-level domain) you have chosen. The name servers will be there, and you will get their IP addresses. When you get a managed DNS, you need to make the change in this TLD’s name servers. The time it takes to update there is out of your hands and is usually up to 48 hours. 
2. The TTL values of the DNS records. This part we already mention a few times. The TTL value shows the time that recursive servers should keep the DNS records in their memory before updating. If you have the TTL value of an A record at 30 minutes, for example, it will take up to 30 minutes to propagate the change, depending on the last time it updated before.  
3. The recursive servers of the ISPs (internet service providers). Not all recursive DNS servers are the same. The ISPs have their own, and they could ignore the TTL values of your DNS records and keep them for longer. Why? Because they want to have less DNS traffic. So the ISPs recursive servers could be the bottleneck of your DNS propagation. 
4. The DNS cache of the users’ computers. When a visitor enters a website, the DNS records for this site will be saved on his or her computer, the time that the TTL value indicates. So, if you are a site owner and you want to visit your site, to which you recently change the IP address, you will need to flush the DNS cache. Then you can visit the site with its new IP address. The users will need to wait until the DNS propagation comes to them or flush the DNS tool.  

How to make the DNS propagation faster?

Yes, you can, and it is simple; you need to lower the TTL period of the DNS records. If you want to know more about it, you can read our article about TTL, where we recommend different duration for various DNS records. You will still need to wait for the expiry period that was set before. All the DNS caches need to expire and the recursive servers to refresh.

You can also force a zone transfer, and that way, push an update to all of the Secondary DNS servers. 

Just take into consideration that a lower TTL value for your DNS records will mean more DNS queries to the Authoritative name servers. This uses more server’s resources.

*Take a look at the previous point. You can’t control the DNS propagation when we are talking about the recursive servers of the ISPs and in the case of change on the TLD level.

How to check the DNS propagation?

It is an easy process. We will show you two ways, depending on your OS.

Windows 10
First, on Windows OS, you will need to open the Command Prompt. There you can use Nslookup on your web site. Just write:

 nslookup YOURWEBSITE.TLD

*Change YOURWEBSITE.TLD with your domain name.

It will perform a lookup for an A or AAAA record and show your website’s IPs, and you can see if they have already changed.

Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, etc.), and macOS 

For Linux OS, you can perform a dig command. Open your Terminal, and you can write: 

“dig YOURWEBSITE.TLD” command. You will get similar result like the nslookup command on Windows OS – the A or AAAA record and the current IP addresses. 

*Put your domain name on the place of YOURWEBSITE.TLD.

ClouDNS Free DNS tool

With the ClouDNS Free DNS tool, monitoring DNS propagation has never been more straightforward. It allows you to check the propagation of DNS records by selecting the specific DNS records and the corresponding resolver. Whether you’re updating A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, or any other DNS records, ClouDNS’s tool provides real-time insights into the status of DNS propagation across different locations globally. It’s designed for both beginners and advanced users who require detailed DNS information with ease of use. Simply navigate to the tool, enter the domain you wish to check, and let ClouDNS handle the rest.

ISP and TTL impact on DNS propagation

When you initiate a web address lookup, the query traverses from your local ISP-provided DNS resolver through a network of servers, culminating at an authoritative nameserver. However, if ISPs opt to extend the caching of DNS records beyond their set TTL, this can lead to unnecessary delays in DNS propagation. Conversely, setting appropriate TTL values is crucial; a longer TTL will mean slower updates globally, while shorter TTLs can ensure rapid propagation for frequent DNS changes. For critical services, a TTL as low as 30 seconds is recommended, though testing for recognition of ultra-low TTLs by resolvers is always a prudent step.

How to Troubleshoot DNS Propagation Issues

If you’re experiencing delays or problems with DNS propagation, here are several suggestions to fix them:

• Verify the Correct DNS Settings: Ensure your DNS settings (A, CNAME, MX) are correct at your domain registrar.
• Check Nameserver Configuration: Confirm that your domain is pointing to the correct nameservers, especially after migrating to a new DNS provider.
• Use DNS Propagation Checkers: Use multiple DNS propagation tools to check whether your records are updating globally.
• Flush Local and Server Caches: Sometimes, local caches (on your device or web servers) can hold old DNS information. Flush DNS caches on both local machines and web servers.

How does DNS caching affect DNS propagation?

While DNS propagation primarily depends on the time taken for DNS updates to spread across all servers, DNS caching plays a significant role in the experience of end users. Recursive DNS servers, ISPs, and even local devices cache DNS records to avoid overwhelming the authoritative DNS servers with requests. This caching system can delay updates for users who already have cached records, even if propagation has occurred on the DNS network. To ensure users receive updates quickly, you can prompt them to clear their DNS cache or wait for the cache to expire based on the Time to Live (TTL) value.

How DNS Propagation Affects Website Visitors

DNS propagation can result in visitors seeing different versions of your website depending on their location and when they access it. During this process, some visitors may:

• Be directed to the old IP address of your website while others see the updated one.
• Experience temporary downtime or slow access, especially if they are served outdated DNS records from cached resolvers.
• Face email delivery issues if your MX records have changed, but their ISP has not yet updated its cache.

This uneven experience will gradually resolve as DNS records are fully propagated.

Conclusion

Now you understand the essence of DNS propagation and its significance. Patience is key during this process, but with the tools and insights provided, you can efficiently monitor the status of your DNS updates. Remember, effective DNS management is foundational to ensuring your online presence is robust and reliable.

The post What is DNS propagation? How to check DNS propagation? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.