DNSSEC: Cryptographic Protection for Your Shopify Domain

What is DNSSEC?

DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) adds cryptographic signatures to DNS records. These signatures prove that DNS responses are authentic and haven’t been tampered with—like a wax seal that verifies a letter hasn’t been opened.

Without DNSSEC, attackers can potentially forge DNS responses and redirect your customers to fake websites.

Why DNSSEC Matters for Shopify Merchants

DNS attacks can redirect your customers without you knowing:

• Shoppers type yourstore.com correctly
• Attackers intercept the DNS response
• Customers are sent to a fake checkout page
• Payment information is stolen

DNSSEC makes these attacks significantly harder by ensuring DNS responses can be verified as authentic.

How DNSSEC Works

Signing DNS Records

Your DNS provider creates cryptographic signatures for your DNS records. These signatures are mathematically linked to your domain.

Chain of Trust

DNSSEC creates a hierarchy of trust:

1. The root DNS zone signs the .com zone’s key
2. The .com zone signs your domain’s key
3. Your domain’s key signs your DNS records

Each level verifies the one below it.

Validation

When a browser looks up your domain:

1. It retrieves the DNS record and signature
2. It checks the signature against published keys
3. If valid, the response is trusted
4. If invalid, the response is rejected

Benefits of DNSSEC

Protection Against Cache Poisoning

Attackers can’t inject fake DNS records because they can’t forge the cryptographic signatures.

Verified Authenticity

Users (and their software) can verify that DNS responses genuinely came from your domain.

Building Block for Other Security

DNSSEC enables other security features like DANE (DNS-based Authentication of Named Entities).

Why Many Domains Don’t Have DNSSEC

Despite its benefits, DNSSEC adoption is incomplete:

Complexity

Setting up DNSSEC requires coordination between registrar and DNS provider. Misconfiguration can break your domain entirely.

Key Management

DNSSEC keys must be rotated periodically. Lost keys or failed rotations cause outages.

Not All Registrars Support It

Some registrars don’t offer DNSSEC or make it difficult to configure.

Marginal Risk for Many Sites

For smaller Shopify stores, the complex attack DNSSEC prevents may not be the highest risk to address first.

Checking DNSSEC Status

Using Online Tools

DNSViz (dnsviz.net) shows a visual representation of your DNSSEC chain of trust.

Using Command Line

dig +dnssec yourstore.com

Look for ad (authenticated data) flag in the response.

At Your Registrar

Most registrars show DNSSEC status in domain settings.

Enabling DNSSEC

Prerequisites

• Your registrar must support DNSSEC
• Your DNS provider must support DNSSEC
• Both must coordinate for key publishing

General Process

1. Enable DNSSEC at your DNS provider
2. The provider generates keys and signatures
3. Copy the DS (Delegation Signer) record
4. Add the DS record at your registrar
5. Wait for propagation and verify

Provider-Specific Instructions

Each DNS provider has different steps. Consult your provider’s documentation for exact instructions.

DNSSEC for Shopify Merchants

If Using Shopify Domains

Contact Shopify support to inquire about DNSSEC status for Shopify-managed domains.

If Using External DNS

Work with your DNS provider (Cloudflare, AWS Route 53, etc.) to enable DNSSEC.

Priority Level

DNSSEC is valuable but not the highest priority for most Shopify merchants. Focus first on:

1. Basic DNS configuration (A records, CNAME)
2. Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
3. Domain security basics (locking, WHOIS privacy)
4. Then consider DNSSEC

Common DNSSEC Issues

Signature Expiration

DNSSEC signatures have expiration dates. If not renewed, your domain can become unreachable.

Key Rollover Problems

Changing DNSSEC keys requires careful coordination. Mishandled rollovers cause outages.

Misconfigured DS Records

The DS record at your registrar must match your DNS provider’s key. Mismatches break resolution.

Provider Migration

Moving to a new DNS provider requires updating DNSSEC at both old and new provider carefully.

How Recon Helps

Recon monitors your DNS security by:

• Checking whether DNSSEC is enabled for your domain
• Alerting you if DNSSEC validation fails
• Monitoring for DNS configuration changes
• Providing guidance on improving DNS security posture

FAQ

Q: Will enabling DNSSEC slow down my website?

A: Minimally. The cryptographic verification adds a small amount of overhead, but modern systems handle it efficiently. The security benefit outweighs the minimal latency.

Q: Can I break my website by enabling DNSSEC?

A: Yes, if misconfigured. DNSSEC failures can make your domain completely unreachable. Always follow your provider’s instructions carefully and test in a low-traffic period.

Q: Is DNSSEC required for Shopify stores?

A: No. DNSSEC is recommended for enhanced security but not required. Many successful Shopify stores operate without DNSSEC.