Technically speaking: Domain Name

When we type in "www.google.com" in the browser, we see a page with a big Google logo. One thing to know, every website that we can see today, owns a specific Public IP Address. For example, "www.google.com" has 173.194.126.105. You can type exactly the same number into the URL bar in your browser, and you get the same website, and see the big Google logo again!

 

So, it is actually 173.194.126.105 = www.google.com, or other way round.

Take note that, Google has many many servers (or we can just call them computers), which are hosting the website. So, it's actually a range of IP addresses, not just one. (Each server has one IP address, just like your computer as well.)

So, how does domain work?

You may heard of DNS (Domain Name System). DNS is like the Yellow Pages, relates each domain name to the specific IP address. So, when we type in "www.google.com", the DNS will look through its "Yellow Pages", checking for the IP address of the domain you just entered. Then, the DNS will route your request to the respective IP address.

There have been several times when www.google.com.my got attacked. When you type "www.google.com.my", instead of routing to the actual google page, it loads the hacker's website.

Why does this happen? Google company server got attacked? Not really. It's actually a DNS hacking. It's not directly related to Google's own servers. But, it's DNS service provided in Malaysia, where the hacker just "alternate" the routing IP address, by routing it from the Google's IP address to the hacker's IP address.

How does hacker hacks? No idea, you ask them lo...