Is it more secure to spoof addresses using the HOSTS file?

Question

If I have a Windows service with a config file that points to web services it needs to call, is it more secure to put a fake DNS name for the server being connected to, then update the HOSTS file to redirect outbound calls to the right IP address?

I was just wondering about hiding the identity of the other servers within the network. — ck., Aug 17 '12 at 07:30

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 17 '12 at 11:07

4

No, basically. Why would it be? If someone can read the DNS name from the config, then they can simply do a Ping or check the hosts file anyway.

Regardless, though, obscuring names and IP addresses is definitely not a way to do security and will simply make maintenance and management difficult for you.

answered Aug 17 '12 at 11:07

Dan

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Thanks for this. Was just a random thought I had in the shower this morning... – ck. Aug 17 '12 at 12:42

Is it more secure to spoof addresses using the HOSTS file?

1 Answers1