3 Uses of Reverse DNS Lookup

Reverse DNS lookup can be used for several purposes. On an individual level, it can be used to track website activity. Businesses can also use it to track activity and geographical demographics for researching purposes. But before diving in to exactly what can be done with reverse DNS lookup, it is essential to have a full understanding of what it actually means.

What is Reverse DNS Lookup?

Reverse domain name system (DNS) lookup is a way to identify the owner of a website by searching from the IP address. It can be done by typing an IP address into a service that will return the information of where the address originates from, or manually, as explained in the instructions provided here.

Reverse DNS lookup functions in a way similar to a telephone number lookup. For example, if a number comes up on your screen without a name, that number could be entered into a website that will say who that number belongs to. Even without using that service, the area code of the number can be used to determine at least where a phone number originates from. A reverse DNS lookup will be able to tell you, at the very least, the region where the server of an IP address is located. Sometimes more information is available, like the name of the company that owns the domain. This provides additional data as to who is visiting what websites. This information can be helpful in research and development processes, as well as for personal security reasons.

Observe Website Traffic

Using reverse DNS allows anyone to see who has been visiting their website. This is good on a personal level to let individuals know who is accessing their website. Oftentimes, individuals create websites for a specific audience and they can use reverse DNS lookup to ensure that the site is only accessed by those who are meant to view it. This keeps out unwanted users, hackers, or potential spammers.

Email Security

Another way an individual can utilize reverse DNS lookup is by using it to monitor the emails that they receive through the receiving server. Receiving servers have a tracker to ensure that the emails received are coming from a sending server that has a reverse DNS record. This allows the receiving server to make certain that emails are not coming from a malicious source. Most emails received from a sending server with no reverse DNS record will reject the incoming email as spam.

Marketing Research

Individuals use reverse DNS lookup typically in an effort to provide a level of security to their internet usage. Businesses can use it for similar purposes, but also for the gathering of information. This research can then be used in marketing. Determining location demographics of who is using their website can allow businesses to market more directly to those locations. They can also adjust their marketing to reach a different audience based on the information returned from reverse DNS lookup data.

Whether you are using reverse DNS lookup to gather information manually, or via an automatic service that provides this information, reverse DNS lookup is the best way possible to collect data on domains from a sending server. This improves individual security and, whether for the better or the worse, marketing research is carried out this way. Though this method is not perfect in identifying where accessing domains are coming from, it is the best one available to monitor website traffic.