9 ms·

Have you considered ICANN? Or USA-based DNS providers? One letter, from the right agency, can do a great deal.

emteycz 5y ago
I don't think turning off DNS servers is 1) actually possible (people would start running mirrors + other countries continue to run) and 2) would disable the internet into uselessness (anything IP based still works).
- int_19h 5y ago
  It doesn't have to be 100% effective, just as with the Great Firewall. Shutting down DNS would shut down most existing apps until they're updated (and also the app stores that are normally used to update them), and preclude the majority from accessing anything online.
  - Const-me 5y ago
    Despite the centralization efforts of big tech, Internet is more resilient than you think it is. > would shut down most existing apps until they're updated Most apps are using DNS client APIs provided by their operating systems. > and also the app stores that are normally used to update them They too. As for the OSes, they don’t normally have hardcoded DNS servers either. Instead, they rely on DHCP to get DNS servers from the routers. There’re many levels of caching involved: operating systems have a DNS cache, home routers have a caching DNS servers, ISPs usually running their own caching DNS servers for their clients, and so on. Updating any single one of them going to fix the issue for all of these end-user apps. ISPs probably gonna be there first, it’s their job to support their network infrastructure 24/7.
    - int_19h 5y ago
      If it gets to the point where DNS is shut down by government fiat, ISPs would be unlikely to push back, because that would just make them a target for more, shall we say, physical activities.
      - Const-me 5y ago
        Which government? The root servers are all over the world: https://root-servers.org/ https://root-servers.org/
        int_19h 5y ago
        The servers that are run by the ISPs, which is what is used by the vast majority of end users in practice (usually indirectly via their router, as you've mentioned).
        emteycz 5y ago
        So they turn on their VPN app... Or ask their local nerd and they'll tell them how to change DNS server IPs.
        int_19h 5y ago
        That's where we get back to my original point - the goal of these measures is not to ensure that there are no loopholes, but rather to make it difficult enough that the vast majority won't be able to / won't bother to use them.
        emteycz 5y ago
        I would agree if we were talking about normal situations, but I think protesting people will try very hard to stay connected - look at Belarus.

I don't think turning off DNS servers is 1) actually possible (people would start running mirrors + other countries continue to run) and 2) would disable the internet into uselessness (anything IP based still works).

int_19h 5y ago
It doesn't have to be 100% effective, just as with the Great Firewall. Shutting down DNS would shut down most existing apps until they're updated (and also the app stores that are normally used to update them), and preclude the majority from accessing anything online.
- Const-me 5y ago
  Despite the centralization efforts of big tech, Internet is more resilient than you think it is. > would shut down most existing apps until they're updated Most apps are using DNS client APIs provided by their operating systems. > and also the app stores that are normally used to update them They too. As for the OSes, they don’t normally have hardcoded DNS servers either. Instead, they rely on DHCP to get DNS servers from the routers. There’re many levels of caching involved: operating systems have a DNS cache, home routers have a caching DNS servers, ISPs usually running their own caching DNS servers for their clients, and so on. Updating any single one of them going to fix the issue for all of these end-user apps. ISPs probably gonna be there first, it’s their job to support their network infrastructure 24/7.
  - int_19h 5y ago
    If it gets to the point where DNS is shut down by government fiat, ISPs would be unlikely to push back, because that would just make them a target for more, shall we say, physical activities.
    - Const-me 5y ago
      Which government? The root servers are all over the world: https://root-servers.org/ https://root-servers.org/
      - int_19h 5y ago
        The servers that are run by the ISPs, which is what is used by the vast majority of end users in practice (usually indirectly via their router, as you've mentioned).
        emteycz 5y ago
        So they turn on their VPN app... Or ask their local nerd and they'll tell them how to change DNS server IPs.
        int_19h 5y ago
        That's where we get back to my original point - the goal of these measures is not to ensure that there are no loopholes, but rather to make it difficult enough that the vast majority won't be able to / won't bother to use them.
        emteycz 5y ago
        I would agree if we were talking about normal situations, but I think protesting people will try very hard to stay connected - look at Belarus.