DNSSEC Status Checker
Instantly audit any website – no account required.
UpMonitor's DNSSEC Checker verifies if your domain has Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) correctly enabled. It checks for DS, DNSKEY, and RRSIG records to ensure your DNS responses are authenticated and protected against spoofing and hijacking. Free to use — no signup required.
Protect your DNS integrity and prevent man-in-the-middle attacks with a comprehensive DNSSEC audit.
DNSSEC is a suite of extension specifications by the IETF for securing data exchanged by the Domain Name System (DNS) in Internet Protocol (IPv4/v6) networks. It provides cryptographic authentication of data, authenticated denial of existence, and data integrity.
What Our DNSSEC Checker Validates
Our free security tool performs a deep dive into your DNS configuration:
✅ DS Record Check
Verifies the presence of Delegation Signer (DS) records in the parent zone. This record establishes the chain of trust between the parent (e.g., .com) and your domain.
✅ DNSKEY Analysis
Audits your zone's public keys used for signing. We check for both Zone Signing Keys (ZSK) and Key Signing Keys (KSK).
✅ RRSIG Verification
Ensures that your resource records are correctly signed with valid signatures. We check for signature expiration and algorithm strength.
✅ NSEC/NSEC3 Support
Checks for authenticated denial of existence, preventing attackers from "walking" your zone or spoofing 404 responses.
Why DNSSEC Security Matters
| Risk | Impact |
|---|---|
| DNS Cache Poisoning | Attackers redirect your users to malicious servers by injecting fake DNS records. |
| DNS Hijacking | Your domain's traffic is intercepted at the network level. |
| Lack of Data Integrity | No way for clients to verify that the DNS response they received is the one you sent. |
| Trust Issues | Security-conscious browsers and services may flag your domain as untrusted. |
DNSSEC Best Practices
Monitor Signature Expiry
DNSSEC signatures have a limited lifetime. If they expire before being rolled over, your entire domain will go offline for DNSSEC-validating resolvers.
Use Strong Algorithms
Ensure you are using modern, secure cryptographic algorithms (like ECDSA Curve P-256) for your keys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DNSSEC encrypt my DNS traffic?
No. DNSSEC provides authentication and integrity, but it does not provide confidentiality. Your DNS queries and responses are still sent in plain text (unless you also use DNS over HTTPS or DNS over TLS).
Can DNSSEC break my website?
If misconfigured (e.g., invalid signatures or missing DS records), DNSSEC-validating resolvers will refuse to resolve your domain, making your site appear "down" to those users.
How do I enable DNSSEC?
You typically enable it through your domain registrar and your DNS hosting provider. They will generate the keys and provide the DS record to be added to the parent zone.
Set Up Continuous Security Monitoring
The free checker above is great for a manual audit, but DNSSEC is complex and prone to "silent failures" during key rollovers.
With a UpMonitor account, you can:
- ✅ Monitor your DNSSEC health 24/7
- ✅ Get instant alerts for signature expiration
- ✅ Track key rollovers and DS record changes
- ✅ Receive warnings for weak cryptographic algorithms