What Is Private DNS and How to Use It

What Is Private DNS and How to Use It?

Online privacy is a big problem in today’s world. Keeping your online security and privacy safe helps keep you and your devices safe from intruders. This is where private DNS comes in.

If you are concerned about your online privacy and want to take steps to improve it, learn what private DNS is and how to set it up on your devices.

Table of Contents

What Is DNS?

The Domain Name System (DNS) maps the web address you are looking for (for example, free-online-converters.com, otherwise called URL or Uniform Resource Locator) with a set of IP addresses so that packets are sent efficiently over the Internet.

Typically, the DNS server performs URL-to-IP address translation. This process is called a DNS transaction and it happens every time you visit a website, use certain applications, or communicate on certain platforms.

These transactions, like domain names, are not encrypted. There are no privacy mechanisms to protect the privacy of transactions. This means that operators and others can easily see and register them, and this can be a major problem if the information poses a security or privacy threat.

It can also leave you vulnerable to certain forms of malicious cyberattacks (for example, attacker-in-the-middle attacks).

What Is Private DNS?

There are two new terms for understanding private DNS: Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS) security. These protocols encrypt any DNS requests sent, and DNS over these protocols is called DoH (DNS over HTTPS) and DoT (DNS over TLS).

Most malware, ransomware, and data theft attacks are based on DNS security flaws. This is where private DNS comes in. DoT and DoH encrypt communications between your network and the DNS server and prevent third parties from intercepting data.

Some other privacy software you can use include VPN and SmartDNS.

How Do You Use Private DNS?

The process will differ depending on your device / platform. To enable private DNS, you need to set up a DNS address on your device and have access to a third-party DNS server that includes DoT or DoH functionality.

Cloudflare offers a free private DNS service 1.1.1.1 or 1.0.0.1, but retains some information, which you can read about here. This DNS resolver is completely free. Other free DNS options include OpenDNS, 1.1.1.1 from Warp, and Google.

How to Enable Private DNS on Windows 10

To use private DNS in Windows 10, follow these steps:

Press Windows Key + I to open Settings.
Select Network & Internet.

Select “Network and Sharing Center” under “Advanced network settings”.

1 – Select Change Adapter Settings from the menu on the left.

Right-click the network you are currently connected to and select Properties.

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4) from the list and select Properties.

Select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter your preferred DNS address.

How to Enable Private DNS on Android

Google introduced DNS over TLS support in Android 9, which allows you to use private DNS on your phone. To do this, you will need access to a private DNS server. Go to “Settings”.

Open Settings.
Select Connections> Advanced Connection Settings.

Select a private DNS.

0- Select the hostname of the private DNS provider.

Enter the address of the private DNS service you want to use.

Note. If you are using CloudFlare the url will be 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com.

How to Enable Private DNS on a Mac

To enable private DNS on a Mac, do the following:

Choose the Apple menu.
Select System Preferences> Network.

Select your current network connection and click Advanced.
Click DNS, then click the Add button (plus symbol) at the bottom of the list.
Enter the IPv4 or IPv6 address for the DNS server you want to select.
Click OK.

How to Enable Private DNS on an iPhone

To use encrypted DNS on iPhone, follow these steps:

Go to Settings> Wi-Fi.

Click the “i” information icon next to your Wi-Fi connection.

Scroll down and select Configure DNS.

Select Manual.

Click Add Server.
Enter the address of the private DNS service you want to use.

CloudFlareâ€™s 1.1.1.1: Faster & Safer Internet App

You can automatically set up a private DNS server on your Android device. Apps like CloudFlare 1.1.1.1 Faster & Safer Internet will automatically configure your device to use DNS Server 1.1.1.1. It is also available on the iPhone. It’s called 1.1.1.1: Faster Internet in the Apple Store. This is a free app with no ads.

Check and Validate the DNS

Setting up a private DNS is not necessarily secure by itself. Once you’ve set up an alternate DNS address, it’s important to check it to make sure your connection is secure. There are several online tools that can be used to do this, including Cloudfare’s own security checker.

This will double check if your DNS requests are encrypted, if your browser supports encrypted server name indication (SNI), if your DNS resolver uses Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), and which version of TLS is in use.

Internet Privacy

Public DNS is one of the most important security concerns on the Internet, and setting up a private DNS can protect you and your devices from online intruders.

Are you using a private DNS? Let us know in the comments below.