ITS will be implementing a Domain Name System (DNS) filtering product, Cisco Umbrella, to enhance protection against web-based threats on February 1, 2021. No additional configuration will be necessary for machines that are already using central services for name resolution.
DNS serves as a phonebook for Internet. It translates human readable names to network addresses that your computer uses to retrieve content. For example, https://uconn.edu is converted into 137.99.26.48. Many attacks rely on DNS to trick a computer into installing malware. Others leverage known domains for gathering credentials or ransomware encryption keys.
Cisco Umbrella is a flexible cloud-delivered security framework that provides protection against threats on the internet, such as malware, phishing, and ransomware. Umbrella DNS filtering adds a layer of defense by managing and preventing access to names identified as dangerous.
For most activities using DNS, our community will notice no difference. If someone attempts to visit a website classified as a security threat, however, they will not go to the website and instead see a page with additional information and a link to report false positives. Once implemented, you can see how this service works by entering www.internetbadguys.com in your browser.
For more information, contact: ITS Security Office at security@uconn.edu