A DNS record is an entry in the Domain Name System that tells resolvers how a domain or hostname should be handled. Different record types can map a name to an IP address, point it to another hostname, or specify services such as email. Together, DNS records help users and systems reach the intended service by name.
DNS records matter for security because changes can redirect traffic or create new hostnames without altering a website’s main pages. In attacks such as domain shadowing, an intruder may add unauthorized records under a trusted organization’s domain to host or promote malicious content. Defenders should monitor DNS administration, review unexpected record changes and unfamiliar subdomains, and investigate edits that fall outside normal change processes.