Alphabet's Intra App Encrypts DNS Queries To Help Users Bypass Online Censorship (zdnet.com)
Catalin Cimpanu, writing for ZDNet: Jigsaw, a technology incubator created by Google and operated as a subsidiary under the Alphabet brand, has released today an Android app named Intra that can encrypt DNS queries as a protection against DNS manipulation at the ISP (internet service provider) level. DNS manipulation is one of the most common forms of online censorship used by oppressive regimes or unscrupulous ISPs, used to block access to news sites, information portals, social media platforms, undesirable software, and more. Intra protects against DNS manipulation by keeping DNS traffic hidden from third-parties with state-level surveillance capabilities, such as internet service providers in countries with autocratic regimes. Reports suggest that Alphabet tested the app with a few dozen political activists in Venezuela before the global roll-out.
Where your DNS queries will be logged by Alphabet and turned over to the proper authorities for consideration, comrade.
n/t
Encryption, so all this really does is raise a huge red flag when all those dns queries start reading as gibberish.
The only real way this would work is say encryption+steganography inside of images sent via a regular http/https service that had no reason to be blacklisted by the country's authorities. Even then, as soon as the cat is out of the bag to one official it can be used to track down all those people who were using it there, assuming metadata collection.
That's why you kill all rats. Snitches don't deserve sympathy.
at first. Google? Fighting Censorship? Give us a break.
It's not encrypted data sent in regular DNS queries, it's DNS over HTTPS. Like what Firefox started doing.
From a network monitoring point of view, it's regular HTTPS traffic.
TCP/IP and UDP through a DNS tunnel using HTTPS.
Thanks Jigsaw.
MITM all https connections using their own certificates, in that case encrypted dns of this form would not work anyways. Other countries connection reset or redirect to a 'banned in our country' page. This doesn't help censorship in any of the majority countries, and simply pushes them to tighten down, either by limiting the websites themselves, or their connections to the outside world. Or the third possibility, which this helps benefit: selling more Deep Packet Inspection hardware to censoring regimes.
> DoH keeps third-party observers from knowing what websites a user is trying to access.
But isn't this information normally exposed by the TLS SNI extension anyway? You'd probably need to run a VPN to escape this particular risk.
Encrypt all the packets.
This is stupid, because the second you connect in any way to the target IP address, that's recorded, and it really doesn't matter what your DNS query was.
Even if your target is a computer that hosts multiple domain names, it's decrypted anyhow, by the DNS service.
You don't have any privacy, and Alphabet is named aptly - Alphabet agency, they work for the intelligence agencies, and they have shown, REPEATEDLY, they will gladly engage in censorship.
I've started writing a seperate dns service which can stream dns over your choice of medium, even as a downloadable 2.5gb file for every zone you can cache on your laptop.
So it's not enough that Google tracks you via web browsing, Android phones, search queries, gmail, etc. Now they want you to use their DNS so they can track EVERY connection you make over the Internet, regardless of whether it originates from one of their products.
I do that avoiding dns tracking/redirect/down via hosts files (where I keep my favorite 90 sites @ the TOP of hosts cached locally in RAM by the kernelmode diskcaching subsystem accessed by the kernelmode IP stack - most cpu priority/fastest possible way). Hardcodes allow you to remain safe (per my subject) vs. DNS requestlog tracking, DNS being REDIRECT POISONED (Kaminsky flaw MOST ISP dns are STILL NOT PATCHED vs.), OR dns down.
* It's SO effective even CHINA copied this from me (I did it 1st & ONLY hosts program that does) &?
Who did it 1st: China or me??
I did - dates are my proof http://theregister.co.uk/2017/... w/ the FACT China rampantly STEALS U.S. Intellectual properties & military secrets!
APK
P.S.=> * IMITATION truly IS the SINCEREST FORM of FLATTERY!!!... apk
So what's the difference between this and Stunnel?
This problem has already been solved and those solutions are out there, today, in the wild.
Whoever invested in this “startup” didn’t do their due diligence.
From the article:
"Intra is easy to install and run right away, and comes pre-configured to funnel encrypted DNS queries to Google's DoH-capable DNS servers by default. Users can also switch to Cloudflare's DNS system, or use a custom DoH-capable server as well."
Though only two browsers support this so I don't know why you would use it. Just use a VPN and everything from every app would be hidden.
DNS manipulation is one of the most common forms of online censorship used by oppressive regimes or unscrupulous ISPs, used to block access to news sites, information portals, social media platforms, undesirable software, and more.
It's not just stereotypical "oppressive regimes or unscrupulous ISPs" that do this. It's also commonly used to block sites like thepiratebay.
If I can get the source of that app I can perhaps make a Windoze program (for both desktop and mobile) to help those users living in China, and in other oppressive countries !
What a waste...
Google?
You mean the one's who disappear content they don't like?
Never trust Alexander Peter Kowalski's lies.
Like how he claims the Chinese copied him but can't produce any evidence.
How about when he states that hosts does port filtering but again can't backup his statement which was shown to be false.
There is also his list of "experts" who support him but it turns out they don't say what he is claiming.
This also ignores his out of context quotes he uses to lie by omission.
The problem with APK is that his entire reputation is built upon the lie he told years ago that hosts is an effective security solution. It has been exposed numerous times as being a lie and when exposed APK fails to argue logically and instead will try to deflect criticism, change the subject, move the goal posts, return to a previously disproved statement, demand you prove you did better than his file concatenator, or just call people names. He will continue to lie by stating that he won or "dusted" you while failing to refute anything you said, will never provide real evidence, and generally try to dodge the issue.
Face it APK is one of the most detested individuals here for good reason. When ever his poor behavior, awful logic, over statements, and horrendous writing are called out he has a fit and has done so for years across the internet. He is a spammer, and is an abusive insecure little man who is washed up and never amounted to anything. Until he produces actual verifiable facts supporting his case, which he can't, nothing he says should be taken seriously. Because he can't actually refute anything he will now repeat all of his previously disproved lies because he is a retarded loser. By do so he will prove this for all to see.
See subject & 3 questions you won't answer: 1.) Do hosts stop threats served by hostname (the way threats are done most) by blocking them? Yes. 2.) Do hosts speed you up 2 ways in adblocking (preventing more infection/tracking/slowdown) & via hardcoded favorite sites resolving faster + protecting vs. dns down or redirect poisoned? Yes.
My hosts program's the only 1 that does the latter @ TOP of hosts cached in RAM (for best performance) & only 1 of its kind on Linux/BSD in easy to use flexible configuration GUI form.
(I also did that latter part LONG before the Chinese & 1st http://theregister.co.uk/2017/... )
APK
P.S.-> Lastly: 3.) Have you done work that's that effective doing more for less faster in kernelmode speed w/ less complexity for exploit + excess overheads vs. solutions KNOWN to be security-issue riddled (like addons (souled-out to NOT work by default OR easily detected & blocked that are BYPASSABLE & EXPLOITABLE), DNS & Antivirus)? No... apk
"classic Windows hosts trick to block the Coinhive or Crypto-Loot domains" - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/a-new-player-joins-coinhive-on-the-browser-cryptojacking-scene/ - BLEEPING COMPUTER
ZD NET http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-use-a-hosts-file-to-improve-your-internet-experience/ "Hosts files really shine by letting you block ads, spyware sites, malware sites, & tracking sites"
SANS ("A related approach to the DNS issue is to create a hosts file on each system that sends requests for spyware to some place else" hosts by myself & RAMU right @ START of "malware explosion" mid 2005 on) https://isc.sans.edu/forums/di...
Aryeh Goretsky/ESET/NOD32: hosts = good security http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=7442373&cid=49747129/
Oliver Day (SYMANTEC/SECURITYFOCUS) http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/491/
Spybot S&D uses hosts.
APK
P.S.=> Malwarebytes' hpHosts hosts & RECOMMENDS my program http://forum.hosts-file.net/vi...
"It's working: Neville... it's working!" See subject & results from the past month https://it.slashdot.org/commen... & https://it.slashdot.org/commen... + https://it.slashdot.org/commen... + https://it.slashdot.org/commen... https://it.slashdot.org/commen... that's only recently while I've been on Linux (few months now only) & 100's of times vs. MANY other botnets/malwares etc. in the past circa 2006-early 2018 while I was on Windows: CONCRETE VISIBLE UNDENIABLE REALITY (see those links as proof).
P.S.=> ... & that's ONLY what /. reported on (there are FAR more)... apk
Your software is just fine - well written, functional... I'm going to continue using the Host File Engine by mmell February 17, 2017
Your premise that hostfiles are a good way to deal with advertising and malvertising is quite valid - by JazzLad April 20, 2016
his hosts program is actually pretty good by xenotransplant August 10 2015
his hosts tool is actually useful for those cases in which one does indeed want to locally block stuff outright while consuming minimum system resources by alexgieg September 25 2015
I like your host file system by Karmashock September 09 2015
that APK guy, I use his host file by rogoshen1 Tuesday March 03, 2015
I personally use a HOSTS file blocker produced from a genius called APK by 110010001000 October 27 2017
* SEE SUBJECT & TELL US: How does EATING YOUR WORDS taste?
APK
P.S.=> You're already VASTLY OUTNUMBERED but many more are coming
Apk has the answer for that - really... kill automatic updates by adding a hosts file entry setting updates.steam.com or whatever to 127.0.0.1. You have to find the right hostname for each software you want to block updates on by raymorris (2726007) on Friday July 06, 2018
APK your posts on this and the hosts file posts, and more, have never been in error and/or bad advice by BlueStrat (756137) on Wednesday June 21, 2017
I support APK's stand on the hosts file and can't see why it's not used more than it is. My hosts file is 144247 lines long (4,332 Kb) it & a firewall serves me very well - by Trax3001BBS (2368736)
ABP is insufficient as a solid hosts file does everything APK reminds us about fast turtle September 17 2013
You need APK's hosts file - by Teun (17872) on Wednesday August 06, 2014
APK
P.S.=> You EATING YOUR WORDS != GOOD NUTRITION... apk
Actually, APK is totally right on this count. Adblock Plus on Firefox mobile is a dog on older, or lower end, phones. A hostfile based adblocker makes for a much better experience in this context. Of course, your phone has to be rooted, which isn't the case with Firefox + adblock." - by chihowa on Saturday May 16, 2015
APK solution STILL relevant Thud457 June 11 2015
In a footnote, I would like to note that I find your hosts file admirable - by vel-ex-tech (4337079) on Tuesday November 24, 2015
APK's monolithic hosts file is looking pretty good at the moment - by Culture20 on Thursday November 17
you're right about hosts files - by drinkypoo (153816) on Thursday May 26
APK, I know people give you a lot of shit regarding hosts, but please don't ever stop - by nasredin (958927) on Friday June 12, 2015 @03:34PM
APK
P.S.=> Are you ENJOYING the taste of EATING YOUR WORDS yet?... apk
APK is kinda right... I've given up on JS based adblocking and gone to blackholing in /etc/hosts, just like it was back in the 90s. The computational load has gotten intolerable for any ad-blocking using JS. I've tried his hosts file generating software. It works. - by bmo (77928) on Thursday October 15, 2015
get around to 'installing' a hosts file list, not sure which one, likely the one from someonewhocares.org. If it works as well as what I used for a while about ten years ago, I'll be happy. And grateful to APK for the lesson and the reminder. - by kermidge (2221646) on Wednesday March 27
I actually went and downloaded a 16k line hosts file and started using that after seeing that post, you know just for trying it out. some sites load up faster. - by gl4ss (559668) on Thursday November 17
dammit MS, you proved APK right about something by lgw
APK
P.S.=> Your words YOU'RE EATING: You choking on them yet?... apk
(APK) is still right a hosts file really does work. It even blocked a some of the video ads that were inserted into a stream OrangeTide February 10 2016
the Host File Engine performs exactly as promised - by mmell (832646) on Thursday February 16, 2017
I do use APK's host file on all my systems at home by OrangeTide December 01 2017
I've never tried to belittle (APK's work), I've flat out said it's good - by BronsCon (927697) on Thursday February 11, 2016 @06:48PM (#51491263)
APK
P.S.=> You still haven't said how EATING YOUR WORDS tastes? apk
I say the following as a caring human being who agrees with how useful HOSTS files are: Your zeal is to be respected - by dave420 (699308) on Monday September 08, 2014
But I love APK!The power of the hostfile compels you! by ratboy666 (104074) on Friday January 29, 2016
APK was right all along! C:\WINDOWS\HOSTS is the solution ;) - by sabri (584428) on Friday October 21, 2016
No complaints from me, I like APK's spam. Reminds me to use a host file. Also, his stuff is free. - by aaaaaaargh! (1150173) on Tuesday November 17, 2015
I'm a fan of apk. Yes he trolls, but he only trolls where it's contextually appropriate. I respect that - by Noah Haders (3621429) on Wednesday July 29, 2015
APK
P.S.=> YOU'RE OUTNUMBERED DOZENS TO 1 - toss on 100,000++ users of my program worldwide too & SEE SUBJECT: JUST FOR "GOOD MEASURE"... apk
Arstechnica = losers who stalked me (as you do now anonymously unidentifiably) to NTCompatible.com & Windows IT Pro magazine forums to their public dismay in Jeremy Reimer & Jay Little + Jarrett DeAngelis (who posts here on /. until I drove his ass off too) when their websites were REMOVED by their hosting providers in Shaw Canada & CrystalTech (for both email harassing me caught on a tracking ticket + stalking me & posting lies about me on them).
Right AFTER I destroyed them both PUBLICLY @ Windows IT Pro on Exchange Servers memory being freed UNHALTING them (which tells you Exchange is HEAVILY POINTER ORIENTED linked list driven, which leads to memory fragmentation that CAN halt a serverware).
Jay Little the "self-proclaimed 'EXCHANGE EXPERT'" HAD TO CONCEDE IT from MICROSOFT'S OWN DOCUMENTATION proving it FOR me there (where they as usual stalked me AS YOU ARE NOW)
Peter Bright/Dr. Pizza (alias GOITERMAN, lol) can tell you what happened to his IRC server after that (lol).
"The great arseHOLEtechnica" (not) RUN OUT of their own server chatrooms hahaha (by "yours truly").
In effete retaliation they edited my posts & impersonated me on their little private playpen of UNDERACHIEVER losers.
APK
P.S.=> ABOVE ALL ELSE: Thanks for outing yourself as 1 of the "few, the defeated" from arseHOLEtechnica - always a pleasure exposing your lame asses (that are nothing more than do-NOTHING "ne'er-do-wells" THAT CAN'T STAND THEMSELVES for it (lol, no shit) & that you are REDUCED to STALKING ME by UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous too... lmao!)... apk
Ask him WHY his false accusation of an old ware of mine was 1st taken down to NO threat & CA sold off the SHITTY antivir he sold (as a paid pawn of theirs) & they are GONE, done. dead... lol!
Lookup "CA Accounting Scandal" on Google - scumbags & THEIR BIRDS OF A FEATHER just go down vs. me everytime!
APK
P.S.=> He's a FAT lying LOSER from podunk idaho... apk