VPN servers and DNS (Domain Name System) are related but distinct concepts. DNS is a system used by websites to identify and communicate with other websites on the internet. It assigns unique names to websites so that each website can be easily found and accessed. For example, when you visit a website like "https://example.com", DNS helps the website recognize it and provide the necessary services. In the context of VPNs, DNS is often used to block or redirect traffic. A VPN server acts as a proxy server that redirects traffic from the original domain to a blocked or encrypted domain, which is typically the target server of the VPN. This process is often referred to as "DNS blocking" or "DNS redirecting." For example, if you have a VPN going to a server called "my-server.com," the DNS name server (e.g., "ns1" or "ablfake") will handle the redirection. The DNS name server will look up the domain name "my-server.com" and redirect traffic to "my-server.com" instead of the original domain where the traffic originated.
- User visits "https://www.example.com" from "https://www.example.net" (original domain).
- The DNS name server (e.g., "ns1") looks up "www.example.com" and redirects traffic to "my-server.com."
- The VPN server then redirects traffic from "my-server.com" to "my-server.net" (target server).
This way, the user's website is blocked from accessing "www.example.net" and redirected to "my-server.net" instead.
DNFS (Domain Name System Forwarding) is a technology used in some VPNs that uses DNS name servers to forward traffic to different servers, making it harder for attackers to block all traffic.
