If you’re concerned about your online privacy and want to take steps to increase it, stick around to learn about private DNS and how you can configure it on your devices.

What Is DNS?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a system that helps you find websites by translating web addresses into IP addresses. This way, packets are sent efficiently over the internet.

A DNS server will translate a URL into an IP address. This process is called a DNS transaction, and these occur every time you visit a website, use particular applications, or communicate over specific platforms.

These transactions are unencrypted and can be seen by anyone. This means that operators and others can easily see and log them, which can be a serious problem when the information is a security or privacy risk.

Cybersecurity experts say that using a VPN can help protect your online identity and keep you safe from malicious cyberattacks. ..

What Is Private DNS?

The two new terms to understand private DNS are TLS and HTTPS. These protocols encrypt any DNS queries sent out, and DNS over these protocols are referred to as DoH (DNS over HTTPS) and DoT (DNS over TLS).

DNS security weaknesses are a major source of malware, ransomware and data theft attacks. This is where private DNS comes in. DoT and DoH encrypt the communication between your network and the DNS server, preventing third parties from intercepting the data.

Some other privacy software you can use to protect your online activities is a VPN and SmartDNS.

How Do You Use Private DNS?

To enable private DNS, you need to configure 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 at 1.1.1.1 or 1.0.0.1 but logs some information, which you can read about here. Cloudflare also offers a paid private DNS service, which is more expensive than the free service and logs more information than the free service.

How to Enable Private DNS on Windows 10

  1. Open the Settings app on your Windows 10 computer.
  2. Click on Network and Internet.
  3. Under “Network settings,” click on DNS.
  4. In the “DNS Servers” section, click on Add a new DNS server.
  5. Type in the IP address of your private DNS server and click OK.
  6. Under “Use this DNS server for all devices,” select the option that best suits your needs and click OK. ..

How to Enable Private DNS on Android

In Android 9, Google introduced support for DNS over TLS. This allows you to use private DNS on your phone. To do this, you will need to have access to a private DNS server. Go to Settings and select the “DNS” tab.

CloudFlare is a security company that provides DNS services. They offer a service that allows you to have your website’s DNS address1.1.1.1. CloudFlare also offers a service that allows you to have your website’s DNS address2.2.2.2. CloudFlare also offers a service that allows you to have your website’s DNS address3.3.3.3. CloudFlare also offers a service that allows you to have your website’s DNS address4a4a4a4a4a4a4a5, which is their main product name for the main product they offer on their website (CloudFlare Security).

How to Enable Private DNS on a Mac

  1. Open the System Preferences panel and select the DNS tab.
  2. In the DNS section, set the following values to their defaults:
  • Type “private” in the text field and click on the “Save Changes” button.
  • In the “Domain Name” field, set a unique domain name for your Mac (e.g., mydomain.com).
  1. Click on the “Apply Changes” button to save your changes.

How to Enable Private DNS on an iPhone

  1. Open the Settings app and navigate to the DNS section.
  2. Scroll down and select the option to enable encryption of your DNS.
  3. Click on the OK button to confirm your decision.

CloudFlare’s 1.1.1.1: Faster & Safer Internet App

You can set up a private DNS server on your Android phone to improve your internet experience. CloudFlare’s 1.1.1.1 Faster & Safer Internet will automatically configure your device to use the 1.1.1.1 DNS server, which is also available on iPhone. This free app functions without 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 ensure that your connection is safe. There are several online tools you can use to do this including Cloudfare’s own security check tool.

This will check to see if your DNS queries are encrypted, whether your browser is supporting encrypted Server Name Indication (SNI), whether your DNS resolver is using Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), and which version of TLS is being used.

Internet Privacy

Public DNS is a security concern on the internet because it can be used by malicious actors to access your computer or device. Configuring private DNS can protect you and your devices from these malicious actors.

Do you use a private DNS service? Let us know in the comments below.