What is DNS Masking?

DNS masking is taking the actual domain name of a website, and hiding it from the user in favor of a different name. Once the URL is hidden, the one masking it is displayed to the user. This can be done in some cases for privacy or length issues. However it can also be for increasing user tracking or masking affiliate links. So, a link could tell you that they’re sending you to one website, but you’re actually going to another. Even after clicking that link, your browser would still tell you you’re on the website you think you clicked.

DNS Masking Should Not be Used

DNS masking negatively impacts SEO, which is used to boost websites. If a web crawler sees two sites with the same content (which DNS masking can display), instead of choosing between which one to promote, it doesn’t promote either. DNS masking can also be used by scammers or tracking websites, and I personally just think that’s unethical. By not allowing the user to know that they’re being tracked very closely, it doesn’t allow for transparency. This can also create distrust between users and the website, because masking is a technique used by scammers.