2026-anon-github-2026-6-dns
findings extracted from this paper
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Rule-based proxy tools (Clash, Shadowsocks, V2Ray) are documented as the most reliable solution for accessing GitHub from China, with split-tunneling rules routing only GitHub traffic through the proxy while keeping domestic traffic on the direct path. Git command-line tools require explicit proxy configuration (git config --global http.proxy http://127.0.0.1:7890) to route clone/push operations, as they do not inherit system proxy settings automatically.
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Configuring encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT) via Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 / https://cloudflare-dns.com/dns-query), Google (8.8.8.8), or Alibaba Cloud (223.5.5.5) is documented as a practical countermeasure to ISP-level DNS hijacking of GitHub in China. Browser-level DoH (Chrome/Edge settings) is highlighted as accessible to non-technical users without installing additional software.
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The GFW blocks GitHub via DNS poisoning across at least four domains — github.com, assets-cdn.github.com, github.global.ssl.fastly.net, and raw.githubusercontent.com — causing connection timeouts and page-load failures for mainland China users. The block is persistent as of February 2026, affecting both browser access and command-line git operations.
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As of early 2026, GitHub mirror sites (FastGit at hub.fastgit.xyz, CNPMJS at github.com.cnpmjs.org, GitClone at gitclone.com) remain operationally accessible as reverse-proxy workarounds for read-only access and git clone acceleration from mainland China. The blog explicitly warns users against authenticating to GitHub accounts via these mirrors due to credential-theft risk, indicating that mirror operators are not fully trusted by the end-user community.
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Bypassing system DNS via local hosts-file entries (e.g., mapping github.com → 140.82.113.4) is documented as the most widely used free workaround for GFW DNS poisoning of GitHub as of 2026. The technique is fragile: GitHub IP addresses change, requiring users to re-query and update entries manually, making it unsuitable as a reliable long-term defense.