How do I change my Mac’s DNS server settings?
Your Mac uses the Domain Name System (DNS), to access websites. Many people don’t know that DNS exists. An IP address is assigned to all websites that are linked to the Internet. Once you enter the IP address of the website into a web browser, your computer will be able to load it.
It can be difficult to remember an IP address. DNS was created to make domain names easy to remember and map them onto numbers-only IP addresses. After entering a URL in the address bar of your web browser and clicking Enter, the DNS server will contact your computer to determine the IP address associated with that domain name. DNS is a directory that contains all websites around the world. It’s more like a giant phonebook that contains all the IP addresses of all websites on the Internet.
Why should you change your DNS servers?
Each Internet service provider has its DNS server. If you purchase Internet access from a company, your Mac will automatically use the DNS servers of that company. This issue is not usually an issue unless the DNS servers of the service provider suddenly stop working. This will stop your Mac from loading websites.
How to modify, add, or edit DNS server settings on Mac
- Start with the Apple menu, and then select “System Preferences”.
- Click on the “Network” control panel and choose the network interface you prefer (Wi-Fi or Ethernet, for example).
- Click the “Advanced” button in the lower right corner.
- Click the “DNS” tab at the top of your screen.
- Click on the [+] plus to add a new DNS Server
- Click twice on the DNS IP address that you want to edit.
- Select a DNS server IP address to be removed. Click the [-]minus button or the delete key.
- After making any DNS changes, click on “OK”.
- To activate DNS changes, click on “Apply” and close System Preferences
The top DNS servers will initially be accessed. Therefore, it is a good idea to put the most performant servers at the top to get the best results.
Protect your Mac from DNS Attacks
These security exploits are on the rise and they can not only impact computers but also entire networks. DNS is significant security exploit when compared to other security exploits used by hackers to damage network infrastructures and steal valuable information.
The following are some of the most important DNS attacks:
- DoS (Denial of Service)
This attack makes a computer unusable by flooding it with traffic or making a resource unavailable. - Fast flux
While executing an attack, the attacker will pretend to be someone else’s IP address. This attack uses location-based data to disguise the attacker’s origin. This will hide the attacker’s true location and give him/her the time necessary to exploit the attack. - Reflected attacks
This attach allows attackers to send increasing numbers of queries, while simultaneously spoofing their IP address and using the victim’s origin address. These queries will eventually be answered and redirected to their victim. - Reflective amplifier DoS
When the query’s size is greater than the answer, a flux activates and causes an amplifying effect. This attack uses the same technique as a reflected attack but will also overpower the infrastructure of the user. - Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS An attacker has access to a large number of computers to spread malware and flood the victim’s computer through overloading traffic. This will eventually lead to the system becoming overloaded and eventually crashing.
- DNS spoofing Attackers divert traffic from a real DNS server and redirect it to a “pirate”. This could result in the theft or destruction of confidential user data.
How can you prevent DNS attacks?
- It is important to clear the DNS cache on both local and wide-area networks.
- It is important to have a firewall.
- You should host the organization’s architecture on multiple servers. If one server is attacked with DDoS, the other server will immediately take control and survive the attack.
- A reliable encryption tool should be used to encrypt the computer or network.
- To ensure that security patches remain current, DNS servers must be regularly updated.
- To prevent cache poisoning, the resolver should only be accessible by external users.
Use Comodo to Prevent DNS Attacks
Comodo, a cybersecurity firm, developed cWatch Web as a web security tool. This is a Managed Security Service (MSS) functioning in a Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) model. The software is hosted on Comodo’s cloud with high storage capacity. It can be used to host detection/protection software on geographically distributed servers all around the globe. cWatch provides professional services 24 hours a day to resolve all web security issues.
cWatch comes with the following key features:
- Web Application Firewall
WAF is available on all web servers within the CDN and acts as a customs inspection point, filtering out malicious code embedded in websites. - Blacklist Repair
Unsuspecting websites can be infected by malicious code. cWatch Web was specifically designed to protect against malicious actors. - Security Information and Event Management
SIEM is the heart of cyber security. It handles advanced threat detection, real-time security monitoring, and incident management. - Content Delivery Network Delivers web contents at a faster pace by caching at multiple global data center servers to reduce the distance to local servers, increase security, and meet spikes in traffic.
- Higher Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
A universal network of distributed servers that improves the performance of web applications and websites.