DNS over TLS vs. DNS over HTTPS: A Comparison of Secure DNS Methods

TL;DR

This article covers the essentials of DNS over TLS (DoT) and DNS over HTTPS (DoH), two protocols designed to encrypt DNS queries and protect user privacy. It includes a detailed comparison of their performance, security implications, and ease of implementation, especially in the context of modern authentication and login management systems. The article also offers guidance on choosing the right protocol for your specific needs.

Introduction to Secure DNS and Its Importance

Okay, so, ever wonder if your internet searches are like, totally exposed? Turns out, traditional DNS is kinda like shouting your queries across a crowded room. Not ideal, right? This "shouting" means your DNS queries are sent unencrypted, visible to anyone on the network path, making them easy to eavesdrop on or tamper with. Let's dive into why secure DNS is a must-have, especially when you're dealing with sensitive stuff like, you know, logins.

Traditional DNS has some serious flaws, honestly:

It sends queries as plain text. Like, anyone can see what you're asking for. Think about that for a sec.
This makes it easy for attackers to do "man-in-the-middle" attacks, where they can intercept your requests and send you to, like, a fake website. (What Is a Man-in-the Middle (MITM) Attack? Types & Examples)
Big privacy concerns, obviously. Your isp (internet service provider) knows everything you're looking up. (ISP Tracking: What Your Internet Provider Can See | BroadbandNow)

So, why should you care about secure DNS for authentication? Here's the deal:

It protects your login credentials. If someone spoofs a DNS server, they could redirect you to a fake login page and steal your username and password. Not good.
It prevents DNS spoofing. Secure DNS makes it way harder for attackers to mess with DNS records and redirect traffic.
It ensures data integrity. You want to be sure that the website you're visiting is actually the website you're intending to visit.

According to Nate Otiker, vp Marketing at DNSFilter, they prioritize DNS-over-TLS (DoT) vs DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) for stronger and faster protection. They seem to really care about it.

Next up, we'll look at the differences between DNS over TLS and DNS over HTTPS.

What is DNS over TLS (DoT)?

Okay, so you've heard of https, right? Well, DNS over TLS (DoT) is kinda like that, but for DNS queries. It's all about keeping your domain name lookups private and secure.

Here's the lowdown:

Encryption is key. DoT encrypts DNS queries using the TLS protocol. Think of it like wrapping your DNS request in a secure envelope, so nobody can snoop on what sites you're visiting.
Dedicated Port. It uses port 853. This dedicated port helps ensure that the encrypted traffic isn't mixed up with other types of web traffic. Using a dedicated port makes it easier for firewalls to identify and manage DoT traffic, and it avoids potential conflicts or interference with other protocols that might share a port.
Privacy Boost. By encrypting DNS queries, DoT makes it harder for attackers or even your ISP to track your online activity. Which, honestly, is a win.

So, how does it work in practice? Well, when you type a website address, your computer sends a DNS query to a DNS server. With DoT, that query is encrypted before it leaves your computer, ensuring privacy.

Next, we'll compare DoT with DNS over HTTPS.

What is DNS over HTTPS (DoH)?

DoH, or DNS over HTTPS, it's kinda like sneaking your DNS requests through the regular web traffic. Clever, huh? Instead of using a dedicated port like DoT, it kinda blends in.

Here's the deal:

HTTPS Encryption: DoH wraps DNS queries in HTTPS. So, it's using the same encryption that keeps your online banking secure.
Port 443: It uses port 443, the standard port for HTTPS. This makes it harder to block, since blocking it would mean blocking a ton of legit web traffic. Blocking port 443 would significantly impact general internet access, making it an impractical measure for many network administrators.
Web Infrastructure: DoH leverages existing web servers and cdns. This makes it easier to deploy and manage. DoH can be served by any web server capable of handling HTTPS requests, meaning providers don't need to set up new infrastructure, just configure their existing web servers.

Basically, DoH makes your DNS requests look like normal web traffic, which can be a real game-changer for privacy.

DoT vs. DoH: A Detailed Comparison

Alright, so, DoT versus DoH – it's not just a battle of acronyms, it's a real showdown for DNS supremacy. Which one comes out on top when you pit 'em against each other?

Here's a quick rundown:

Performance: DoT often has a slight edge because it uses a dedicated port (853), which can reduce latency. Think of it like having a dedicated lane on the highway for your DNS queries. However, the difference might not always be noticeable for your average user. Latency differences might become more pronounced on networks with strict traffic shaping or deep packet inspection, where DoH's use of port 443 might be subject to more scrutiny or delays. Users on high-latency networks or those frequently accessing geographically distant DNS servers might also notice a more significant difference.
Security: Both DoT and DoH use encryption, so you're covered either way. However, some argue that DoH's use of the standard HTTPS port (443) makes it harder to block, which is a win for avoiding censorship.
Implementation: DoH is often easier to implement because it piggybacks on existing web infrastructure. It's like adding an extra layer to something you already have.
Privacy: This is where it gets interesting. Both improve privacy, but DoH, because it's handled by web servers, could centralize data with fewer big players. As Nate Otiker, at DNSFilter, mentioned, they prioritize DoT vs DoH for stronger protection, so it's something to consider.

So, which one wins? Well, it depends on your priorities. As long as you're making the move to secure DNS, you're already ahead of the game.

Integrating Secure DNS with Authentication Solutions

Integrating secure DNS with authentication? It's like adding an extra layer of, "are you really who you say you are?" to your logins.

DoT and DoH can seriously up your security game. Here's how:

Phishing Protection: By verifying domain authenticity, DoT/DoH makes it way harder for phishers to trick users with fake login pages.
Password Reset Security: Securing DNS queries during a password reset, stops attackers from intercepting those requests and hijacking accounts.
Domain Verification: Ensures that your talking to the real deal.

Think of LoginHub as your authentication fortress, but with, like, a really secure moat, you know? LoginHub leverages DoT/DoH by acting as a secure DNS resolver itself or by enforcing its clients to use secure DNS. When a user attempts to log in, LoginHub can ensure that the DNS resolution for the authentication service's domain is performed securely, preventing DNS spoofing that could redirect the user to a malicious site. This means LoginHub doesn't just provide a secure login interface; it also secures the underlying network communication necessary for authentication to occur.

It leverages secure DNS for, you've guessed it, enhanced security, making sure that login requests are legit.
Integrating with social login providers, adding an extra layer of trust and security to the process.
Providing a secure authentication hub that is like, protecting your login process from all kinda bad stuff!

Developer Tips for Implementing DoT and DoH

So, you're ready to roll up your sleeves and implement DoT/DoH? Sweet! But honestly, it ain't always a walk in the park; there's a few bumps you might hit.

First off, when configuring your clients, dive into those command-line tools.

Think networksetup on macOS or digging into resolvectl on Linux—getting cozy with these is key.
Next, setting up your dns resolvers is crucial, especially if you're aiming for specific secure dns providers. Cloudflare and Google Public DNS are popular choices, but shop around, find what you like.
Lastly, always verify that the encryption is actually working! Use tools like Wireshark to peek at the traffic. For DoT, you'd look for encrypted packets on port 853. For DoH, you'd observe encrypted HTTPS traffic on port 443 that contains DNS query patterns.

What if things go south? Connection problems? dns resolution failures? Performance bottlenecks? Yeah, those happen.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Secure DNS Method

So, you made it this far, huh? Choosing between DoT and DoH, it's not a one-size-fits-all thing, honestly. It really boils down to whatcha need.

DoT, as we've seen, is all about that dedicated security channel. it's like having a private tunnel, keeping things neat and tidy.
DoH? well, its the master of disguise, blending in with regular web traffic. Good for dodging censorship, maybe?
Balancing act, really. Performance versus privacy, you know?

And what about the future? Well, things are always changing, aren't they? Emerging standards like DNS over QUIC (DoQ), more folks jumping on the secure DNS bandwagon, and cool integrations with other security tech like VPNs and zero-trust architectures – it's all happening. As Nate Otiker at DNSFilter says, the future of dns encryption is here, and it's something to keep an eye on, you know?