DNS Hijacking: All You Need to Know About It

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7-layers of Security for Your WordPress Site

Your website needs the most comprehensive security to protect it from the constant attacks it faces everyday.

Have you ever typed a familiar URL into your browser only to land on a strange, unfamiliar website?

Imagine your visitors facing the same dilemma when accessing your website. They end up on a rogue website designed to steal their information or install harmful software. Consequently, your visitorsā€™ trust in your site goes for a toss.

This alarming scenario carries all the telltale signs of a website attack.

However, what do you do when you have exhausted all remedial measures for a redirect hack but the problem persists?

You are now facing a sophisticated attack called DNS hijacking. Thankfully, there are solutions to stop this from happening. In this article, we look at what DNS hijacking is and how to prevent such attacks.

TL;DR: DNS hijacking is a serious threat that can redirect your site visitors to malicious websites, compromising your siteā€™s integrity and your visitorsā€™ trust. Once you have secured your site against this threat, use MalCareā€™s robust security featuresā€”such as its rapid malware scanning and cleaning capabilities, along with its advanced Atomic Security firewallā€”to further protect your site.

What is DNS hijacking?

DNS hijacking, also known as a DNS redirection attack, is a sneaky way hackers mess with your website’s traffic. When someone types your website’s address into their browser, it fires off a DNS query to find your website’s IP address. Normally, this query ensures visitors land on your legit site. But with DNS hijacking, things go wrong.

In a DNS hijacking attack, these DNS queries are incorrectly resolved i.e. wrongly answered. Imagine this: a user types `www.example.com` into their browser. The browser then requests a DNS server to translate this URL into its IP address. Here’s where the attacker steps in. They intercept the request and redirect it to a rogue DNS server. This rogue server then sends back an IP address, but not the one of your actual site. Instead, it leads to a malicious website.

So, what happens next? Your visitors, who think they’re landing on your legit site, end up on a fake one. This fake site often looks just like yours but is designed to steal sensitive information or install harmful malware. Your visitors’ data can be compromised and your site will lose trust and credibility among its users.

What are the different types of DNS hijacking attacks?

Understanding the different types of DNS hijacking can help you better protect your site. Here are the main types:

  1. Local DNS hijacking: This occurs on an individualā€™s computer where malware or viruses change the local DNS settings. When the compromised computer makes a DNS query, it gets redirected to malicious sites.
  2. Rogue DNS server hijacking: This can also be called a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack. In this, an attacker configures a rogue DNS server, which then responds to DNS queries with incorrect IP addresses. For example, letā€™s say someone types your websiteā€™s URL: the rogue server hijacks the query and sends back the IP address of a malicious website. Users think theyā€™re visiting your site but end up somewhere harmful.
  3. Router DNS hijacking: Attackers can target and compromise routers that arenā€™t adequately secured. They change the DNS settings on the router itself, affecting all devices connected to it. These devices could include, and are not limited to, the servers that use this router to serve your site to visitors. This is particularly dangerous for web hosts, especially as they host thousands if not millions of sites.
Hackers target WordPress sites

Detect a DNS hijacking attack

Detecting DNS hijacking early can save you a lot of trouble down the road. Here are some key signs and steps to help you spot it:

  1. Unusual changes in website traffic: One of the first signs of DNS hijacking can be sudden and unexplained changes in your website traffic. You might notice a significant drop because visitors are being redirected to malicious sites instead. Keep an eye on your analytics. If you see an unusual dip without any clear reason, itā€™s time to investigate further.
  2. Reports from users: Sometimes, the best insights come directly from your users. If visitors report that theyā€™re being redirected away from your site or seeing unexpected pop-ups, alarms should go off. Encourage users to contact you with any suspicious experiences. Their feedback can be invaluable in identifying a potential DNS hijacking attack.
  3. Suspicious browser behavior: Another telltale sign is strange behavior in your browser. This could include unexpected security warnings, abnormal pop-ups, or even being redirected to odd websites. These anomalies can indicate that something is amiss with your DNS settings. If you or your users notice such behavior, it’s essential to act quickly.
  4. Security alerts from monitoring tools: Using security monitoring tools can provide early warnings of DNS hijacking. These tools can alert you to unauthorized changes in your DNS records or suspicious activities. Services like Cloudflare, Google Safe Browsing, and other security providers can notify you of potential threats. Regularly review these alerts to stay ahead of any issues.
  5. Run DNS lookups: Conducting regular DNS lookups can help detect inconsistencies. Use available online tools to perform DNS health checks and cross-verify the IP addresses returned for your domain. Any discrepancies or unexpected records should be investigated immediately. There are several free tools like MXToolbox where you can check DNS settings easily.
  6. Check your DNS records: Regularly verifying your DNS records with your domain registrar can also help detect unauthorized changes. Compare your current records against a known good configuration to spot any alterations. This approach can quickly flag any changes that might have occurred without your approval.

If you don’t remember who your domain registrar is, find it using ICANNā€™s domain registrar lookup tool. The requisite details will be in the Registrar Information section. If you see a number instead of an organization name, reference that number using IANAā€™s registrar ID list.

If you are a WP Remote user, you are saved from all this trouble thanks to its Domain Monitoring feature. It provides you with all these details, and more, in just a few clicks.

Now, if you are the site owner who purchased the domain, you can directly reach out to the registrar. However, if you are the site admin, you must route your queries through the domain owner.

Recover from DNS hijacking

Discovering that you’ve been hit by DNS hijacking can be alarming, but swift action can help mitigate the damage. Hereā€™s a step-by-step guide on what to do:

  1. Change all passwords immediately: The very first thing you should do is change the passwords for all your administrative accounts, including your domain registrar, hosting provider, and website platform. Use strong, unique passwords and consider enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security.
  2. Notify your domain registrar or DNS provider: Contact your domain registrar or DNS provider right away. Inform them about the issue so they can investigate and assist you in correcting the DNS records. They may also have additional tools and services to help you secure your DNS against future attacks.
  3. Verify and restore correct DNS settings: Check all your DNS settings to ensure theyā€™re correct. If any unauthorized changes have been made, restore the records to their original state. Double-check that all records point to the correct IP addresses for your site. Typically, your domain registrar or DNS provider can take care of this.
  4. Conduct a thorough site security audit: Run a comprehensive security audit of your website to identify and fix any vulnerabilities. This includes scanning your site for malware, checking for unauthorized access, and reviewing your security configurations. MalCare is incredibly beneficial here, as it thoroughly scans your site and bundles malware removal services if needed.
  5. Reset security keys and certificates: If any SSL/TLS certificates and public keys are compromised, make sure to revoke and replace them. This ensures that any compromised keys cannot be used by attackers to impersonate your site. MalCare resets security keys as part of an automated hack cleanup.
  6. Inform your users: Transparency is crucial. Inform your users about the incident and let them know what steps you’re taking to secure the site. Encourage them to change their passwords and be vigilant for phishing attempts. Honesty helps maintain trust during security incidents.
  7. Review security protocols: Take this opportunity to review and strengthen your overall security protocols. Implement best practices such as regular security updates, enabling DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions), and employing robust monitoring tools. This will not only help prevent future DNS hijacking but also other types of cyberattacks.
  8. Use security plugins: Fortify your siteā€™s defenses with a robust security plugin. MalCare is a great option to consider. It provides an advanced firewall, malware scanning, and removal, as well as various other security features that can protect your website from different threats.
Security and Firewall section on MalCare dashboard

Prevent DNS hijacking

Preventing DNS hijacking is critical to protecting your website and its visitors. While we recommend using security tools like MalCare to secure your site from hackers, it cannot prevent DNS hijacking attacks. MalCare and other security plugins operate at a site level, whereas DNS hijacking takes place at the domain level

However, it is important to note that many attacks and threats occur at a site level, from which MalCare can save your site. MalCare brings important security features like comprehensive site scans, malware removal, firewall protection, etc.

With that out of the way, here are some ways to fortify your siteā€™s defenses:

1. Use a reputable registrar that provides DNS security

This is super important, especially for site owners and developers. When choosing a domain name registrar, opt for well-known, trusted DNS providers that offer robust security features. Make sure your registrar provides registry locking. This ensures that DNS and other connectivity records can’t be changed without approval from multiple authorities, like you and the registrar.

Also, check if the registrar provides WHOIS privacy protection. This helps redact your personal information or replace it with generic information on the public WHOIS database.

If you’re already using a registrar that doesn’t offer these services, consider migrating your domains to a more secure registrar, like Cloudflare, Google Cloud DNS, Amazon Route 53, etc. It may seem complex, but itā€™s definitely doable.

2. Implement DNSSEC

Enabling DNSSEC on your domains adds an extra layer of security. Think of it as the “blue tick” of DNS security; it verifies whether a DNS lookup is authentic and hasnā€™t been tampered with, making it much harder for attackers to intercept DNS requests. Many reputable registrars and DNS providers support DNSSEC, so turn it on for your domain if you havenā€™t already.

3. Regularly update all software and plugins

Keeping everything up-to-date helps protect against known vulnerabilities. This includes your CMS, plugins, and any other software you use on your site. Regular updates often include security patches that fix known exploits. A site running outdated software is an easy target for attackers. Tools like MalCare can help you manage and update your plugins efficiently.

4. Employ two-factor authentication (2FA)

Adding 2FA to your accounts provides an extra layer of security. Even if an attacker obtains your password, they would still need the second factor (often a code sent to your phone) to access your accounts. Enable 2FA for your domain registrar accounts, hosting accounts, and any other services related to your website.

5. Monitor your DNS records

Regularly checking your DNS records for unauthorized changes helps you catch any issues early. Many DNS providers offer monitoring tools that alert you to changes in your DNS settings. You can also use third-party monitoring services to keep an eye on your DNS records. This proactive approach ensures that any suspicious activity can be addressed immediately.

What are the consequences of DNS hijacking attacks?

DNS hijacking can have some pretty severe consequences for your website and its visitors. Hereā€™s what you might face if this kind of attack hits you:

  • Data theft: One of the most alarming consequences is data theft. Hackers often redirect visitors to fake websites designed to steal personal information such as login credentials, credit card numbers, and other sensitive data. Imagine a user trying to log into your site but ending up on a fraudulent page that collects their information. This kind of breach can damage your reputation and lead to severe legal and financial repercussions.
  • Spread of malware: Malicious redirects resulting from DNS hijacking often spread malware to unsuspecting visitors. Once users land on these sites, they may inadvertently download harmful software that can compromise their devices, steal data, or even recruit their computers into botnets. If visitors associate this experience with your website, it can result in a significant loss of trust.
  • Phishing scams: Hackers can use DNS hijacking to carry out effective phishing attacks. By redirecting users to a phony version of your site, they trick visitors into entering sensitive information. For example, someone may believe they are entering their login details into your website but are actually giving this information directly to cyber criminals. This can lead to identity theft and financial fraud, affecting both you and your users deeply.
  • Loss of trust: Your visitorsā€™ trust is paramount. If they are redirected to malicious sites, their confidence in your brand can be eroded quickly. Even a hint of a security breach can make users wary of revisiting your site. Restoring that trust can be a long and challenging process involving significant time and resources.
  • Reputation damage: A compromised site can quickly gain a negative reputation. News about data breaches and malware can spread fast, especially through social media. This kind of bad press can result in a drop in traffic and a decline in your site’s credibility. The damage to your brand’s reputation may take years to repair, affecting current and future business opportunities.

Final thoughts

DNS hijacking is a serious threat that can compromise your website and its visitors. Understanding how it works, the types of attacks, and the potential consequences are crucial for website owners and admins. By being proactive and staying vigilant, you can detect suspicious activities early and act quickly to mitigate any damage. Other hacks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS), can also pose significant threats to your siteā€™s security.


The steps outlined in this article offer a comprehensive approach to securing your DNS and maintaining the trust and integrity of your site.

While tools like MalCare may not directly prevent DNS hijacking, they can play an essential role in your overall security strategy. MalCare provides comprehensive malware scanning, continuous monitoring, and instant malware removal, adding a robust layer of defense to your website. Complement this with reputable DNS providers, enabling DNSSEC, and regularly updating your software and plugins to create a multi-layered security approach. By combining these measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of DNS hijacking and protect your online presence against various threats.

FAQs

How can I tell if my site has been hijacked?

DNS hijacking signs include unusual drops in website traffic, reports from users about being redirected to different sites, unexpected security warnings, and security alerts from monitoring tools. Conducting regular DNS lookups and monitoring your DNS records can also help catch such issues early.

What should I do if my site has been hijacked?

First, change all your administrative passwords and enable two-factor authentication. Notify your DNS provider, verify and restore correct DNS settings, conduct a thorough site security audit, reset public-facing keys and certificates, inform your users, and review and strengthen your security protocols.

Can MalCare help protect my site from DNS hijacking?

While MalCare does not directly prevent DNS hijacking, it provides comprehensive malware scanning and removal, continuous monitoring, and additional security features that protect your website from various other threats.

Can I migrate my domain to a more secure registrar?

Yes. If your current registrar doesnā€™t offer adequate DNS security features, you should migrate your domains to a more secure registrar. While the process can be complex, it is certainly possible and worth the effort for enhanced security.

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