What is a Blockchain Domain? And How to Implement It to Secure Domain Names?
Blockchain domain names are new in the digital era of development. Domain names are always at the front doors of businesses’ online presence. They are crucial assets that represent your business brand.
Domain names are always at some risk of theft and unauthorized access. It’s crucial to ensure that we keep the domain names secure and maintain ownership, especially considering how much is on the line. Choosing a reliable web hosting provider, like AccuWebHosting, can offer additional layers of security and support to safeguard your domain names.
Traditional domain names have done great work improving security, but now we are entering the blockchain domain world. However, the Global blockchain market was $7.4 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach over $94 billion by the end of 2027. (Source: MarketandMarkets)
Blockchain domains are based on decentralized technology, which provides exceptional security and control.
In this blog, we will cover how blockchain technology helps to secure your website domain names. So, let’s start with the basics.
What is Traditional DNS?
Domain Names are the phonebooks of the internet.
When you want to go to a website and find the best web hosting, you type in a domain name like accuwebhosting.com and the DNS turns that name into a computer-friendly IP address that helps computers find the website.
Traditional DNS helps to make the internet easy to use by letting us use simple and easy-to-remember names instead of long strings of numbers. However, Traditional DNS is really important, but it does have some weaknesses. Some common security risks include:
What are the Security Risks in Traditional DNS?
- DNS Spoofing (Cache Poisoning): Attackers can insert fake information into a DNS resolver’s cache. This can redirect users to harmful websites.
- DDoS Attacks: Sending too much traffic to a DNS server can make websites hard to reach.
- Domain Hijacking: In this hijackers make changes to domain registration data without permission, which can lead to losing control of the domain. This could cause big financial and reputational problems.
These risks need to be considered with safer options. However, there are many available web hosting services with the best in-hand services. Accuwebhosting is one of them.
Now, let’s consider why a blockchain domain name might be the best option to choose in future.
What are Blockchain Domains or Blockchain DNS?
So, what exactly are blockchain domains? They are domain names that are registered and managed using blockchain technology, which is a decentralized ledger. Unlike regular domains that are controlled by specific companies, blockchain domains are owned directly by the user, without any middlemen involved.
Once a domain is registered on the blockchain, it can’t be changed, censored, or taken down by any one party. This is a big deal for businesses to ensure security and owning their stuff.
How Blockchain Domain Names Work?
When you register a blockchain domain, you’re getting a digital asset, usually in the form of a unique token on the blockchain.
This token proves that you own and control the domain. To get it, you need to buy the domain through a blockchain registrar. Once you’ve done that, you have complete control over it. You can connect it to your website, set up email services, or even use it with decentralized applications (dApps).
The best part is that everything is done in a decentralized way, which provides an extra level of security and ownership.
Key Features of Blockchain DNS
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Immutability:
After a domain is registered, its record cannot be changed, which creates a permanent and tamper-proof record.
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Security:
Blockchain’s decentralized nature makes it tough for anyone to attack or commit fraud.
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Transparency:
All transactions and changes are recorded on the blockchain for everyone to see, making everything transparent and verifiable.
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True Ownership:
When you have a blockchain domain, you have full control. No middlemen or central authorities can mess with your domain.
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Decentralization:
When there’s no central authority such as ICANN, the chance of censorship is lower, and it helps to keep your domain easily accessible.
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Cryptocurrency Integration:
You can use cryptocurrencies to buy domain names and for other transactions, which adds more security and convenience.
Now let’s find the comparison between them.
Traditional DNS vs. Blockchain DNS
| Feature | Traditional DNS | Blockchain DNS |
| Centralization | Centralized | Decentralized |
| Security | Vulnerable to attacks | Highly secure, tamper-proof |
| Ownership | Controlled by registrars | True ownership by the user |
| Transparency | Limited | Fully transparent on the blockchain |
| Censorship Resistance | Susceptible to censorship | Resistant to censorship |
| Control | Registrar-dependent | The user has full control |
| Cost | Varies, often recurring | Usually a one-time purchase |
How to Set Up Blockchain Domain Names?
The blockchain technology approach has many benefits compared to the traditional domain name systems (DNS) as it improves security, ownership, and control.
Here’s a detailed guide on how to set blockchain technology to secure domain names:
1. Choosing a Blockchain Domain Provider
When you’re looking to secure a blockchain domain, the first thing you need to do is pick a well-known and trustworthy blockchain domain provider. Some of the popular providers to consider are:
- Unstoppable Domains: Offers domains with extensions like .crypto, .zil, and more.
- Ethereum Name Service (ENS): Primarily uses the .eth extension and operates on the Ethereum blockchain.
- Handshake: An open-source, decentralized domain naming protocol that uses its blockchain.
Each web hosting provider offers different features, domain extensions, and prices. It’s important to do your research and pick the one that suits you best.
Consider things like how easy it is to use, if it can be integrated with other tools if there’s a helpful community, and the overall environment before making your decision.
2. Registering a Blockchain Domain
After you’ve picked a provider, the next thing to do is to register your blockchain domain. The registration process usually includes these steps:
- Create an Account: Sign up on the platform you’ve chosen and create an account.
- Search for Domain Availability: Make sure to use the provider’s search tool to see if the domain name you want is available. Blockchain domains can be very popular, so you might have to try different names or extensions.
- Purchase the Domain: When you find an available domain name, you can buy it. With blockchain domains, you usually use cryptocurrencies to make the purchase. This means you might need to set up a cryptocurrency wallet and get the right amount of
money. The price can change depending on how popular the domain name is and how the platform sets its prices. Unlike regular domains, blockchain domains usually have a one-time purchase fee and no annual renewal costs.
3. Linking the Domain to Your Website
Once you’ve registered your domain, the next thing to do is link it to your website. This process may be different depending on your provider, but it usually involves the following steps:
- Set Up DNS Records: Like regular DNS, you must set up DNS records for your blockchain domain. These records help route web traffic to your website’s server. Depending on your provider, this could mean creating A records (for IPv4 addresses), AAAA records (for IPv6 addresses), or other types
- Use Gateway Services: Many blockchain domain providers offer gateway services that connect regular internet and blockchain domains. These services let people visit blockchain-based websites using regular web browsers, without needing extra
configurations. - Integrate with Web Hosting: If you use a web hosting service, you might need to adjust your hosting settings to work with your blockchain domain.
Now, let’s talk about the benefits of blockchain domain names and how this technology helps to secure domain names.
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How Blockchain Technology Helps to Secure Domain Names?
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Decentralization
Traditional domain name systems depend on central authorities like ICANN and different domain registrars to handle domain registrations and solve domain names. This setup creates vulnerable points that bad actors can exploit.
For example, attackers can take over domains or change DNS records if a registrar’s database is hacked.
Instead, blockchain technology spreads out domain information across a network of nodes. Each node keeps a copy of the blockchain, and any changes to domain information need agreement from these nodes.
This decentralized system removes weak points, making it hard for attackers to change domain records. Even if some nodes are hacked, the domain data stays secure thanks to the agreement mechanism.
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Immutability
Once data is stored on a blockchain, it can’t be changed or deleted. This means that records on a blockchain are secure and will always be kept safe.
On the other hand, traditional DNS systems are vulnerable to unauthorized changes. For example, attackers can redirect traffic to harmful websites by tampering with DNS records, a technique known as DNS spoofing or cache poisoning.
When using blockchain technology, if someone tries to change a record related to a domain, they would have to change all the blocks that come after it. This is hard to do using computers. This makes sure that the information about the domain stays right and doesn’t change, which makes it more trustworthy and secure.
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Cryptographic Security
Blockchain technology works with advanced cryptographic techniques. When you register a domain, it’s linked to a cryptographic address. It would help if you had a private encrypted key to change the domain record. The ownership controls this key.
This private key is used to make sure that no one else can make changes to the domain. It
keeps the domain safe from unauthorized changes or theft. -
Transparency and Auditability
Changes in domain names are recorded on the blockchain. It creates a trail of action on blockchain. This helps to add extra security because any suspicious changes can be easily spotted and looked into by anyone on the network.
In the old DNS systems, it was hard to keep track of changes to domain records, and you often needed access to logs from registrars or hosting providers. However, with blockchain technology, this process becomes simpler and more transparent. It makes it easier to spot and deal with security issues.
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Resistance to Censorship
Blockchain domains have a significant benefit – they can’t be quickly censored. In regular systems, powerful groups can shut down or take over domains, especially when pressured by governments or others. This can mess up online services and limit free speech.
Blockchain domains are complex to censor or shut down because they’re decentralized. When a domain is registered on the blockchain, it’s spread out across the network, so it’s tough for one group to control it.
It makes it safe for domain owners to run their websites without worrying about them being suddenly shut down or restricted.
Limitations of Implementing Secure Blockchain Domain Names
Despite the many benefits, there are also some limitations to consider:
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Scalability and Performance:
Because blockchain technology is still growing consequently, some platforms could have problems with handling a lot of transactions, which might slow them down.
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Cost:
Registering a blockchain domain can cost more than traditional domains, especially for premium names.
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Technical Complexity:
Creating and handling blockchain domains can be difficult for some people because it requires technical expertise.
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Limited Adoption:
Blockchain domains aren’t fully supported everywhere, so they can’t easily work with all the systems out there.
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Regulatory and Legal Uncertainty:
The rules for blockchain technology are still changing, and as a result, it’s not always clear what’s allowed in your jurisdiction area.
Conclusion
Blockchain domains provide a new and secure way to manage domain names. They offer better security and actual ownership and are less likely to be censored, making them a strong alternative to traditional DNS.
Are you a business owner or someone who wants to protect your online presence? Blockchain domains can help with that. They work based on the idea of decentralization and transparency. Not all domains can use blockchain technology, but it’s expected to improve in the future.
