<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1">
</head>
<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">Hello,<br>
<br>
This is, I am sure, a simple Tor-DNS question, but I would
appreciate it if someone could confirm my understanding of how
this system works. <br>
<br>
Normally (without Tor) when someone requests a website the URL has
to be converted into the IP address. Therefore, a) the user's
cache is checked for this connection between URL and IP b) if the
cache does not have the IP then the ISP's DNS is checked c) and if
the ISP's DNS does not have the IP then the ISP's DNS requests it
from the DNS server where the domain is registered which then
directs the user to the hosting location. <br>
<br>
However, with Tor and Polipo, then DNS request is routed through
Polipo then through Tor's three nodes then the final exit node
does the DNS resolution with the DNS server where the domain is
registered (bypassing the local cache and ISP).<br>
<br>
I ask because I have a direct internet connection (no NAT) and do
not own my network. Therefore, I cannot change the DNS settings
in resolv.conf (to OpenDNS for example), nor can I use a VPN
(which also requires changing DNS settings). However, Tor does
work and the message log does not show any leakage. <br>
<br>
I just want to confirm that Tor and Polipo are, in fact, bypassing
my ISP's DNS, and that what I have written above (however ineptly)
seems correct.<br>
<br>
Thanks - much appreciated. <br>
<br>
</font>
</body>
</html>