DNS, or Domain Name System, is the service that translates human-readable domain names, such as example.com, into machine-readable IP addresses, such as 93.184.216.34. DNS is essential for navigating the Internet, but it also exposes your online activity to various threats, such as censorship, surveillance, and spoofing. That is why you should use encrypted DNS, which protects your DNS queries and responses from being intercepted or modified by anyone on the network.

There are two main standards for encrypting DNS: DNS over TLS (DoT) and DNS over HTTPS (DoH). Both standards use the same encryption protocol, TLS, that secures HTTPS websites. However, they differ in how they send the encrypted DNS data. DoT uses a dedicated port (853) and sends the data directly over UDP, while DoH uses the same port (443) as HTTPS and sends the data over HTTP or HTTP/2. Both standards have their advantages and disadvantages, but they share the same goal of enhancing your privacy and security on the Internet.

Privacy Benefits of Encrypted DNS

One of the main benefits of encrypted DNS is that it prevents anyone from snooping on your DNS traffic. By default, DNS queries and responses are sent in plaintext, which means they can be read by anyone who can monitor your network traffic, such as your ISP, your government, or a hacker. This can reveal the websites you visit, the services you use, and the content you access. For example, if you visit a website that offers health advice, your DNS traffic can expose your health condition or interest to a third party.

Encrypted DNS solves this problem by wrapping your DNS traffic in a secure layer of encryption. This way, only you and the DNS resolver you trust can see the domain names you request and the IP addresses you receive. Anyone else who tries to intercept your DNS traffic will only see meaningless gibberish. This protects your online privacy and prevents others from profiling or tracking your online behavior.

Security Benefits of Encrypted DNS

Another benefit of encrypted DNS is that it protects you from malicious attacks that target your DNS traffic. Some of these attacks include:

• DNS spoofing: An attacker modifies the DNS response to redirect you to a fake website that looks like the real one, but can steal your credentials, infect your device with malware, or display false information.
• DNS hijacking: An attacker takes control of your DNS resolver or router and changes the DNS settings to point to a rogue resolver that can manipulate your DNS traffic.
• DNS filtering: An attacker blocks or alters your DNS traffic based on certain criteria, such as the domain name, the content, or the source. This can result in censorship, throttling, or injection of unwanted ads or malware.

Encrypted DNS prevents these attacks by ensuring that your DNS traffic is authentic and intact. It uses TLS to verify the identity of the DNS resolver and to ensure that the DNS data is not tampered with or forged. This protects your online security and ensures that you access the correct and legitimate websites and services.

Conclusion

DNS is a vital service for the Internet, but it also exposes your online activity to various privacy and security risks. Encrypted DNS, such as DoT and DoH, is a solution that encrypts your DNS traffic and protects it from being intercepted or modified by anyone on the network. Encrypted DNS enhances your privacy by preventing others from snooping on your DNS traffic and your security by protecting you from malicious attacks that target your DNS traffic. Therefore, you should use encrypted DNS whenever possible to enjoy a safer and more private Internet experience.

What are some popular encrypted DNS providers?

Some popular encrypted DNS providers are:

• OpenDNS: A free and fast DNS service that blocks security threats, ads, and trackers. Supports DNS-over-TLS (DoT) and DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) protocols¹.
• Google Public DNS: A free and reliable DNS service that improves performance and security. Supports DoT and DoH protocols².
• Cloudflare: A free and secure DNS service that claims to be the fastest in the world. Supports DoT and DoH protocols³.
• Quad9: A free and privacy-focused DNS service that blocks malicious domains and protects against cyberattacks. Supports DoT, DoH, and DNSCrypt protocols.

You can use any of these DNS providers by changing your DNS settings on your device or router. You can also use encrypted DNS clients, such as dnscrypt-proxy or Nebulo, to encrypt your DNS traffic and choose from a variety of DNS resolvers.

What is the difference between DoT and DoH?

DoT and DoH are both protocols that encrypt DNS traffic using TLS, but they differ in how they send the encrypted data over the network. DoT uses a dedicated port (853) and sends the data directly over TCP, while DoH uses the same port (443) as HTTPS and sends the data over HTTP or HTTP/2¹². DoH also encrypts the entire DNS response, including the final IP address field, making it more secure and private¹. However, DoT is simpler and more efficient than DoH, as it does not require the additional overhead of HTTP³. Both protocols have their advantages and disadvantages, depending on the use case and the network environment⁴⁵.

What is dnscrypt?

DNSCrypt is a protocol that encrypts and authenticates DNS traffic between a client and a resolver. It prevents DNS spoofing and ensures that the responses come from the chosen resolver and have not been tampered with¹. DNSCrypt also supports anonymized DNS, which hides the client’s IP address from the resolver². DNSCrypt is an open and free protocol, with various implementations for different platforms³. You can use DNSCrypt to enhance your privacy and security on the Internet.