What is DNS Hijacking? How to Detect DNS Hijacking

When you load a website at the same domain you’ve always visited, you expect to find the website you usually go to. But cybercriminals have become experts at cloning familiar sites to trick users into handing over their personal information without realizing what’s happening. 

This is domain name server hijacking, or DNS hijacking, and it accounts for less than 1% of cybercrime worldwide. But even with numbers so low, an attack like this can leave your business with substantial damage. 

The sophistication of these makes them difficult to spot, which is why you should have DNS security solutions in place to mitigate the risks. These tools redirect web traffic through filters that look for characteristics of DNS attacks and identify malware signatures before they have the chance to infect a user’s device.

In order to hijack the DNS, hackers intercept traffic between the user’s device and the IP address of the real website, instead directing them to a different IP address where they control the information. The criminals can then gather and steal user details directly from the cloned website, or they may install malware onto the device.

In many cases, DNS hijacking targets businesses whose websites as users provide some form of personal information, like login details or credit card numbers. Once they have what they want, perps can steal money from individuals and businesses, or even run extensive identity theft schemes.

How does DNS hijacking work?

Every website owner has DNS records. This is the information that notes the unique domain and internet protocol (IP) address that your website is connected to. These records make sure your website goes to the right place. For instance, if you switch your domain from MyBusinessName.com to BusinessNameCity.com, your website needs to update its DNS records to reflect the change. 

In a DNS hijacking, cybercriminals typically alter the IP address within your DNS records, rather than the domain name. This means that although it looks like MyBusinessName.com is what’s being loaded, the actual website it goes to is a spoof created by hackers. 

By swapping out your IP for their own IP address, hackers can mask their illegal behavior by making it appear that the website is the correct, legitimate option.

Types of DNS hijacking

Cybercriminals can employ several different types of DNS hijacking, typically one of four options:

• Local DNS hijacking. If hackers access your business network, they can install and disperse malware throughout the system onto every individual connected device. This then changes the local DNS settings to redirect users to a sketchy site when.
• Router hijacking. Routers, particularly older models, come with preset passwords and firmware with vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit. With this type of DNS hijacking, criminals take over the router and overwrite existing DNS settings for all devices and users connected to that router.
• Machine-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. Also known as DNS spoofing, these attacks occur when criminals intercept traffic between a legitimate website and their DNS. Hackers can change the DNS settings and move traffic to a different= website without users’ noticing.
• Rogue DNS servers. If hackers alter the DNS record on the DNS server itself, they can reroute traffic straight to the server of the illegitimate website. In these instances, traffic doesn’t even go to the original DNS, but passes straight to the cloned website.

Other methods that cybercriminals may use include distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks wherein they flood the DNS server with unusually high load requests that cause it to become overwhelmed. Malware already on a device can also trigger DNS hijacking, where site redirects occur as soon as a user tries to load a website.

How to detect DNS hijacking

Determining whether your DNS records have been hijacked presents a big challenge, but you can learn to spot some signs, like sudden slow load times, along with numerous pop-ups where there were previously none.

Unexpected website redirects

Although many cybercriminals clone sites to match the legitimate ones, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, they simply redirect the original domain to an entirely different site. These don’t always look suspicious, though. 

However, if a site that you weren’t expecting loads at that URL, always be cautious, especially if the site asks you for personal information like login or payment details. This could be a DNS hijack designed to steal your sensitive data.

SSL certificate warnings

Most websites these days have secure socket layer (SSL) certificates that establish a safe connection for users between their server and a web browser. Sites with these certificates, particularly e-commerce sites, encrypt payment and personal information so that only the business sees these details.

If you receive a warning about an incorrect or nonexistent SSL certificate, consider it a yellow flag and proceed carefully, or go to a different site. If a user has visited that site before and knows it has an SSL cert, this could be a sign of an attack. However, remember that this isn’t always a sure way to determine a DNS hijack. SSL certificates do expire, so it’s possible that the site owner or administrator just forgot to renew it.

Change in router settings

Several types of DNS hijacks use routers to infect devices with malware and update the DNS settings through these vulnerabilities. By routinely checking your router settings, you can see if the DNS records are still the same ones that they’ve always been or if anything has been changed.

Audit your DNS and router settings

Tools like WhoIsMyDNS check that your DNS records match those from your internet service provider (ISP). By reviewing these records a year, you can make sure that the DNS servers you’re using to host your website are legitimate and haven’t been changed due to a DNS hijack.

Impact of DNS attacks 

DNS hijacking can have severe consequences for both individuals and organizations. Here are some of the potential impacts:   

• Data theft: Malicious websites can be designed to steal sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card numbers, and personal data.  
• Financial loss: Victims may unknowingly make fraudulent transactions or incur unauthorized charges.   
• Reputation damage: Organizations can suffer reputational damage if their website is hijacked and used for malicious purposes. Customers may lose trust in the organization and switch to competitors.   
• Malware infection: Hijacked websites can be used to distribute malware, such as viruses, ransomware, and spyware. This can lead to data loss, system damage, and increased security risks.   
• Disruption of services: DNS hijacking can disrupt critical services and applications, leading to business downtime and productivity loss.   
• Phishing attacks: Attackers can use hijacked websites to launch phishing attacks, tricking users into revealing sensitive information.   

How to prevent DNS hijacking 

You must keep your business data safe, especially for your employees and customers so it’s important to take steps that lower the risk of a DNS hijack. 

Update passwords regularly

Both individual device and router passwords should be routinely changed to avoid hacking attempts. Many routers come with default easily-guessed passwords that are easy to predict so make sure to change them. 

Use strong, unique passwords on all applications and online logins. Should a DNS hijack take place and someone enters a simple password into the spoof site, all other accounts that use that password become vulnerable.

Install security updates

Security patch updates fix bugs or weaknesses in your applications, hardware, and software. As new cyberattacks are developed, antivirus and anti-malware tools should be updated to their latest versions in order to protect your systems. 

Use a business VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) is a great way to encrypt your data and keep your activity safe from certain types of DNS hijacking. Encourage your team to use a VPN, particularly when using public Wi-FI in order to add an additional layer of security.

Consider using DNS filtering

DNS filters and firewalls can be configured to allow sites to only load specific IP addresses, which means that if DNS records are updated to a malicious address, the site won’t load and it will be impossible for users to unknowingly hand over their private information.

Train your team about cybercrime

Educating your team about protocol for encountering suspicious activity helps stop all kinds of cyberattacks. Phishing accounts for over 70% of cybercrime worldwide, often because employees click links in emails or provide private information thinking that the recipient is a bank or government entity. 

Training your team about what a phishing scam can look like and how to report attacks to your IT or security team goes a long way toward avoiding these types of cyberattacks. If staff have concerns that a DNS hijack may have occurred, they should know who to contact to start an investigation. While they may not understand the ins and outs of this kind of crime, they should be aware of what online or device behavior could be red flags for a possible hack.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What causes DNS hijacking?

DNS hijacking can be caused by various factors, including: malicious code, network misconfigurations, phishing attacks, cyberattacks.  

Can I detect if my DNS has been hijacked?

While it can be difficult to detect DNS hijacking directly, you can look for signs like unusual website behavior, slow loading times, or unexpected redirects. You can also use online tools to check your DNS settings and identify any anomalies.  

What should I do if I suspect my DNS has been hijacked?

If you suspect DNS hijacking, contact your internet service provider (ISP) or IT support immediately. They can help you investigate the issue and take necessary steps to mitigate the threat.  

How to fix DNS malware?

To fix DNS malware, you can:

• Scan your device: Use antivirus software to detect and remove malware.  
• Reset your router: This can help to eliminate any malicious configurations.
• Change your DNS settings: Consider using a reliable DNS provider or a DNS filtering service.
• Update your operating system and software: Keep your devices and software up-to-date with the latest security patches.  

Dodge that DNS drama!

There’s no debate: you must protect your business information online. Cybercriminals become sneakier and craftier every year when it comes to rolling out attacks, but you can stay one step ahead by implementing safeguards in your network to stop potential privacy pirates from taking what belongs to you.

Step up your company safety with website security software that’s specifically designed to protect your business from internet-based threats.