Yandex Blog

Yandex Browser Pioneers Built-in DNS Security

Yandex kits out its browser with built-in domain name system protection technology to safeguard all users of Yandex Browser against DNS spoofing. This is the first time a browser comes with a DNS security technology on board.

Yandex Browser’s built-in active security system Protect provides a comprehensive anti-fraud defense against the majority of currently existing cyber-threats. It automatically checks all downloaded files for viruses, warns users about dangerous websites, and protects their passwords when using public networks.

Yandex Browser’s newly added line of defence, DNSCrypt, is a protocol that authenticates communications between a browser requesting a DNS address of a website and a DNS server offering this address. Provided by renowned DNS security expert, OpenDNS, this protocol will now be doing its job right through the browser, without user's having to purchase, download or activate a separate security product.

DNS spoofing, when your requested website is replaced with a fraudulent website somewhere server-side, or router hijacking, when your router's DNS is changed by malware, according to the industry experts, affect millions of modems and routers worldwide.

Now, instead of going to an unknown DNS resolver, all your requests made through Yandex Browser will go straight to one of 80 secure and fast DNS servers owned by Yandex in multiple locations all over the world. In addition to using a verified DNS resolver, the DNSCrypt protocol encrypts communications between the browser and the server making them impossible to intercept.

Yandex Browser with DNSCrypt is available for Windows and OS X and can be downloaded from here. To start enjoying the browser's DNS protection, turn on the DNSCrypt encryption in settings.

The option to choose a DNS resolver to communicate with your Yandex Browser will become available in the near future.