IMPORTANT
The UK DNS Privacy Project is currently exploring the implemention of DNS over QUIC to enhance user privacy and performance. However DNS over QUIC is not currently supported by our resolvers.
DNS over QUIC (DoQ) ​
DNS over QUIC (DoQ) is a protocol designed to improve the privacy, security, and performance of DNS queries by leveraging the QUIC transport protocol. Traditional DNS queries are sent in plaintext, making them susceptible to interception and manipulation. DoQ addresses these vulnerabilities by encrypting DNS traffic and reducing latency.
How Does DoQ Work? ​
DoQ operates by transmitting DNS queries over the QUIC transport protocol, which is built upon UDP. Here's an overview of the process:
- You enter a domain name (e.g., example.com) into your browser.
- Your device sends the DNS query encrypted over QUIC to a DoQ-enabled DNS resolver.
- The DoQ server decrypts the query, processes it, and determines the corresponding IP address.
- The server encrypts the response and sends it back to your device over the established QUIC connection.
- Your device uses the IP address to establish a secure connection to the website or service.
Benefits of DNS over QUIC ​
DNS over QUIC (DoQ) provides several advantages that enhance both privacy and performance in DNS resolution.
Enhanced Privacy is a key benefit of DoQ, as it encrypts DNS queries, preventing eavesdropping by third parties. Traditional DNS queries are often sent in plaintext, making them vulnerable to interception by ISPs, attackers, or other intermediaries. With DoQ, encryption ensures that DNS requests remain private, protecting user activity from surveillance.
Improved Performance is another advantage of DoQ, as QUIC reduces connection establishment time. Unlike traditional DNS-over-TLS (DoT), which requires a full handshake before exchanging data, QUIC enables faster, more efficient connections. This leads to reduced latency in DNS resolutions, making web browsing and online activities more responsive.
Resistance to Blocking is an important feature of DoQ. Since it operates over QUIC, which is built on UDP rather than TCP, DoQ traffic can bypass certain network restrictions that might affect traditional DNS traffic. Some networks attempt to block or interfere with encrypted DNS protocols like DoH or DoT, but DoQ's unique transport mechanism makes it more resilient to such interference.
Challenges and Considerations ​
Despite its benefits, DNS over QUIC also presents some challenges and considerations that users and network administrators should be aware of.
Adoption of DoQ is still in its early stages. While major DNS providers are starting to support DoQ, it is not yet as widely available as DoH or DoT. Many client applications and operating systems do not natively support DoQ, requiring additional configuration or software to enable it.
Network Compatibility can be an issue, as some networks may block or throttle UDP traffic. Since QUIC operates over UDP, certain firewalls and network policies designed to limit UDP-based protocols might negatively impact DoQ performance. In such cases, users may experience connectivity issues or fall back to traditional DNS methods.
Resource Usage is another factor to consider. QUIC requires additional encryption and session management processes, which may consume more computational resources compared to traditional DNS-over-UDP queries. While the impact is typically minimal for modern devices, it could be noticeable in resource-constrained environments.
Despite these challenges, DNS over QUIC is a promising protocol that enhances privacy, security, and performance for DNS queries. As adoption grows, it is expected to become a valuable tool in the effort to secure internet communications.