Tor and DNS.

[Matthew]

  Hello,

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Thanks - much appreciated.

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