# What is DNS?

DNS (Domain Name System) is the internet's directory: it translates names like netsenx.com into the IP addresses computers need to connect. Every time someone opens a website or an application contacts a server, a DNS lookup usually happens first. That makes DNS useful for security: the names a device looks up show where it is trying to go, including a malware server or an unapproved AI service. Attackers also abuse DNS, for example by hiding data inside lookups, which is called DNS tunnelling. Keeping DNS on your own resolvers and keeping their logs helps investigations.

FAQ: [What is…? Network and security terms](https://netsenx.com/en/faq/glossary) · https://netsenx.com/en/faq/what-is-dns

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- https://netsenx.com/en/what-is-ndr
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