What is Private DNS and Why Should You Use It for Better Privacy?

Introduction to DNS

Domain Name System (DNS) is an important part of the Internet infrastructure which is used to translate the human readable domain names to IP addresses, which the computers understand. DNS is the internet’s phonebook. DNS servers are at work behind the scenes when you type the domain name of a website, such as example.com, into your browser and your device connects to the correct website because its IP address has been found.

DNS servers are critical to enabling the communication of devices on the Internet, allowing users to access websites, send emails, and more. A DNS record can exist in one of the following types: A record, which points to an IP address, MX record, directing mail traffic, TXT record, providing extra information about a domain.

If you want to set up a private DNS zone or configure DNS settings on your device, it’s important to understand DNS. To understand the importance of DNA in protecting your online privacy and security it will help to first get a hold of the basics of DNS.

How DNS servers work

DNS servers are computers which are specialized to store a humongous database of domain names and their corresponding IP addresses. If you type a domain name in your browser, your device makes a DNS query to a nearby DNS server. The server then queries the IP address of the domain name back to your device so that you can access the website. The process behind this is known as DNS resolution, which usually occurs in milliseconds.

In order to protect privacy, you can configure DNS servers to use protocols such as DNS over TLS (DoT) or DNS over HTTPS (DoH), which encrypt DNS queries to preserve privacy of the user. Also, DNS servers can use DNS filtering to block access to malicious websites and phishing scams as an additional layer of online activity security.

Benefits of using private DNS to encrypt DNS queries

🔐Enhanced privacy: Your DNS queries are encrypted and therefore hide your browsing activity from third parties.

🔐It protects from DNS spoofing by preventing the attacker from redirecting your traffic to malicious sites.

🔐Faster, more reliable: Sometimes, encrypted DNS is faster and more reliable, particularly when using a trustworthy DNS provider. Moreover, it includes such functions as the encryption of DNS queries and the banning of suspicious websites within the network.

What is the difference between private DNS and regular DNS?

Your queries are sent in plain text in regular DNS, they can be intercepted easily. Private DNS adds an encryption layer so that your queries are protected during transmission, that is, they’re kept private and tamper-proof. Having private DNS is important to improving online privacy and security, because it helps keep sensitive information encrypted.

Limitations of private DNS

Although Private DNS does significantly improve privacy, it’s not a security solution. It doesn’t encrypt your whole Internet traffic, but only your DNS queries. And it can’t mask your IP address or prevent the websites from tracking you.

How to set up private DNS on your devices

On Android, go to the settings app, tap Network & Internet, select Advanced, tap Private DNS. Pick Private DNS provider hostname and decide on a provider (for example, dns.google or 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com). It is recommended to use Google DNS due to its reliability and security.

Private DNS configuration is not yet available as a system wide configuration on iOS, however, it is supported through apps or via profiles. When it comes to manually configuring DNS, it is important to have access to the network connection settings.

For Windows/macOS: To use am encrypted DNS providers you can configure Network Settings or with a third party tool.

Choosing a DNS provider

However, there are tons of DNS providers out there making it quite difficult to choose the perfect one. Choosing a DNS provider needs to be done based on security, speed, and reliability. Seek providers who provide features such as DNS encryption, DNS filtering, and solid security to ward off cyber threats.

Google Public DNS, Cloudflare DNS and OpenDNS are one of the most popular DNS providers. These are known to be fast and reliable. Before going ahead, also take into account the DNS privacy policy of your provider: some may collect and sell your data. Selecting a reliable DNS provider can guarantee you with a safe and private online experience.

Private DNS security

Maintaining online security requires private DNS security to be a critical aspect. You can encrypt your DNS queries and keep your online activity hidden using a private DNS provider. This extra security layer makes it harder for hackers to monitor and steal sensitive information from your DNS queries.

They also can help prevent cyber threats by blocking malicious websites and phishing scams of private DNS providers. To turn private DNS mode on your device, head to your device settings, open your network and Internet, and pick a private DNS provider. To advance your security, you can also set up a private DNS zone on your device or network.

Why a VPN complements private DNS

A virtual private network (VPN), encrypts all your online traffic and directs it through a secure server masking your IP address and location. Whereas Private DNS just guards against DNS queries, a VPN offers an all-around security against surveillance, Internet Service Provider (ISP) throttling and cyber threats. Using Private DNS with a VPN service gives you complete online privacy and security.

However, we recommend you use VeePN — a premium VPN service that doesn’t collect your personal information and provides a wide range of advanced security features.

How VeePN enhances your privacy

VeePN encodes all Internet traffic, including not only DNS requests. Once on, VeePN provides you with encrypted traffic for greater privacy and a range of security features:

🛡️No Logs policy

🛡️Global server coverage: Choose from over 2,500 servers in 89 locations for optimal performance and access.

🛡️Military-grade encryption

🛡️Compatibility with iOS, Android, PC devices, and even browser extensions.

How to use VeePN with private DNS: Step by step

This is a deep guide on how to use VeePN with Private DNS:

1. Install the VeePN app.
2. Choose a VeePN server and establish a connection.
3. You can enable Private DNS on your device by a trusted provider.
4. Enjoy free internet, private, and unrestricted internet.

Conclusion and final thoughts

To conclude, DNS is an integral part of Internet infrastructure and it is important to understand how DNS works in order to maintain online privacy and security. A good DNS provider and changing your device’s DNS settings will make you safe and secure online.

Features like DNS encryption and DNS filtering help to block malicious websites and phishing scams, which is important in private DNS security to protect against cyber threats. With the ongoing evolution of the Internet, it’s important to be aware of the most up to date DNS technologies and best practices for keeping your online security secure. To protect your online identity and sensitive information from prying eyes, download VeePN to enhance your online safety and comfortable DNS server use.

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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