The need to protect yourself from evil domain name system (DNS) servers

A popular way for cyber criminals to execute their attacks on internet users is to manipulate an individual’s online behaviour in that they change their internet settings to direct them to domain name system (DNS) servers that they have been created in order to pretend to be something that they aren’t to receive payments or obtain confidential personal data. DNS servers are integral to the operation of the internet in that they make it possible for computers and other devices to find each other. The attackers use these evil DNS servers to make money by setting up rogue servers that will direct individuals to websites that contain fraudulent advertising, spread malware or even trick them into revealing personal information such as bank account passwords.

F-Secure, a leading organisation in data security, now prevents its users from becoming part of an online scam through its new one-button Router Checker. The Router Checker checks an individual’s internet setups, preventing any web traffic being misdirected to websites containing malware or code that will steal their personal information. It checks a user’s settings on their computers, phones and router, making sure that they are connected to safe DNS servers that users want to be taken to, as well as ones that are chosen by their service providers.

With a click of a button using Router Checker, the user can rest assured that their computer stays healthy.

As internet users, we need to rely on our DNS to make sure that we get things done on the internet and yet not many people know anything about the DNS that they are using. In order to enjoy your time online you need to have trust in these things and F-Secure’s Router Checker builds this trust by letting users know who handles their internet traffic. F-Secure’s one-button Router Checker prevents web traffic from being misdirected. It identifies altered internet settings that can let attackers manipulate what people see and do online. Changing router or internet setting is very popular amongst hackers as it allows them to attack large numbers of individuals without getting caught. According to F-Secure’s Labs, over 300,000 home or office routers were discovered to have altered settings in 2014, with each router potentially serving multiple computers, mobile phones and other devices. What makes these attacks so difficult to notice is that they can manipulate people in very subtle ways. “Attacks that target internet settings often go unnoticed because they don’t really have obvious symptoms for people to pick up on. People will suddenly see more ads, or they’ll be misdirected to a dangerous website that looks and feels safe”, says F-Secure security advisor Sean Sullivan. “This makes diagnosing these problems important, and Router Checker is all about making the diagnosis accessible and easy so that people don’t have to worry”.

F-Secure’s Router Checker’s accessibility is a key feature because it gives people a stress-free way to make sure that their internet setups are healthy. Unhealthy setups can usually be fixed by updating software or resetting a router. What people don’t realise is there can be serious consequences if these unhealthy setups go unnoticed. The best way to take advantage of the tool is to run it as part of a spring-cleaning routine or as a go-to solution if you think there’s a problem. Router Checker is currently free to use and available now at www.f-secure.com/router-checker.