DNS Deep Dive: Tools, Tactics, and Troubleshooting

DNS Solutions & Server Troubleshooting

This week, our latest knowledgebase articles are about DNS, DNS & more DNS.

How To Troubleshoot DNS Issues and Best Tools For DNS Query Inspection

Struggling with DNS problems? Discover expert troubleshooting techniques and the top DNS query inspection tools that will save you hours of frustration. Learn how to quickly identify and resolve DNS issues before they impact your website's performance and availability. More on How To Troubleshoot DNS Issues and Best Tools For DNS Query Inspection

How to Configure Custom Nameservers with cPanel Reseller Privileges

Unlock the full potential of your reseller hosting with our comprehensive guide to custom nameserver configuration. Boost your brand's professional image, enhance client trust, and streamline domain management—all through your cPanel reseller account. Follow our straightforward instructions to set up white-labeled nameservers that will impress your clients and simplify your workflow. More at How to Configure Custom Nameservers with cPanel Reseller Privileges

10 DNS Solutions Every Plesk and cPanel User Must Know

Learn about the 10 most commmonest DNS issues you will see in Plesk and cPanel environments & their solutions. From accelerating domain propagation to implementing failover strategies, these proven techniques will enhance your site's reliability, speed, and security. More at 10 DNS Solutions Every Plesk and cPanel User Must Know

Server Troubleshooting For Fearless SysAdmins

System debugging done right can be fun. Take a look at these diagnostic techniques, discover time-saving command sequences, and develop a structured approach to solving even the most challenging server issues. Transform from reactive to proactive with strategies that prevent downtime and ensure peak performance. More about Server Troubleshooting For Fearless SysAdmins

Domain Industry Insights: Global Domain Report 2025

The latest Global Domain Report from InterNetX and Sedo reveals fascinating trends in the domain market:

Key Statistics:

• 364.3M domains registered globally in 2024, up 1.2% YoY

• Legacy gTLDs like .com/.net lost 3.1M registrations

• ccTLDs (like .cn, .de, .nl) grew, especially in Europe

• .ai surged toward 6M domains, driven by AI hype and aftermarket sales

• New gTLDs hit nearly 37M, led by .xyz and projections of 50M+ by 2026

• Domain security, DNS abuse, and EU’s NIS2 Directive were major themes

• Sedo reports $2,345 average domain sale price

Notable growth has been seen in .ai domains, driven by the AI industry boom, with projected registrations reaching 6 million by Q1 2025. Premium .ai domains are commanding high prices in the aftermarket, with twin.ai selling for $95,000.

The report predicts new gTLD registrations will surpass 50 million by 2026, demonstrating their increasing acceptance in the marketplace. Wanna dive in deep? Here is the full report.

Cybersecurity Alert: Major Retail and E-commerce Attacks

Social Engineering Breaches Hit Major UK Retailers

Marks & Spencer and Co-op recently fell victim to sophisticated social engineering attacks. The hackers, linked to the "Scattered Spider" group, tricked IT staff to gain access to company systems, leading to significant disruptions:

• M&S lost £650 million in market value

• Click-and-collect and contactless payment systems were compromised

• Hundreds of agency workers were told not to come to work

The NCSC Recommends These Critical Security Measures:

• Implement multi-factor authentication across your organization

• Enhance monitoring against unauthorized account misuse

• Review helpdesk password reset processes

• Monitor logins from atypical sources (like VPN services in residential ranges)

• Strengthen security operations with threat intelligence capabilities

Magento E-commerce Sites Targeted in Supply-Chain Attack

At least 500 e-commerce sites have been compromised through a sophisticated supply-chain attack involving three software providers: Tigren, Magesolution (MGS), and Meetanshi. The attack targets Adobe Commerce/Magento-based stores with malware that remained dormant for six years before activating.

The malware creates backdoors allowing full remote code execution, giving attackers complete control of compromised systems. Most breaches have resulted in payment card skimming operations.

Industry News Roundup

OpenAI Remains Non-Profit After Pressure

OpenAI has abandoned its controversial plan to become a for-profit company, announcing it will remain under the control of its founding nonprofit board. CEO Sam Altman cited input from "civic leaders and discussions with the Attorneys General of California and Delaware" in the decision. The move comes amid ongoing legal challenges from co-founder Elon Musk.

Google Faces Potential Ad Business Breakup

A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that Google has illegally monopolized online advertising, finding the company abused its power in the ad tech market. The Department of Justice is pushing for Google to divest both its publisher ad server and AdX exchange businesses to restore market competition. A trial regarding potential remedies is scheduled for September 22.

Meanwhile Mozilla noted how vital that search deal cash is to Firefox's survival, but equally, how important Firefox's survival is as a defence against Google and the rest of big tech. Google's money pays the Mozilla engineers and developers who make Firefox, its Gecko engine, the security engineers and researchers who keep the web as a whole safe, its infrastructure, and its contributions to other source projects, like WebRTC.

Cardano Web3 Wallet Expands to Firefox

Cardano has brought its Web3 wallet to the Mozilla Firefox browser with the Lace 1.22.1 release. This expansion follows the recent addition of Bitcoin support in beta, marking the beginning of Lace's multichain evolution. Users can now manage multiple cryptocurrency assets directly within the Firefox browser.

PayPal to Launch Contactless Payments in Germany

PayPal will soon debut contactless payments in Germany, allowing iPhone users to make tap-to-pay purchases using their PayPal accounts. This feature is possible thanks to Europe's Digital Markets Act, which forced Apple to open up NFC access to third-party apps. German customers will be able to use PayPal for in-store purchases wherever contactless Mastercard payments are accepted.

WordPress Security Alerts

Critical Vulnerabilities in WordPress Plugins

Stay vigilant with these recently discovered plugin vulnerabilities:

• External Image Replace Plugin (≤ 1.0.8): Vulnerable to arbitrary file uploads due to missing file type validation. No patch available; consider uninstalling.

• Envolve Plugin (≤ 1.0): Subject to arbitrary file deletion affecting language files. Update to version 1.1.0+ immediately.

• Upload Media by URL Plugin (≤ 1.0.7): Contains a cross-site request forgery vulnerability (CVE-2023-3720). Update recommended.

• The PGS Core plugin ≤ 5.8.0 for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access, modification, and loss of data due to a missing capability check on multiple functions. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to add, modify, or plugin options. Update to 5.9.0 recommended.