What is Private DNS and Should You Use It with a VPN?

Understanding DNS and Its Role

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a critical component of internet functionality, translating user-friendly domain names into numerical IP addresses that computers use to communicate. For instance, entering a website’s domain name into a browser prompts a DNS server, typically managed by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), to resolve it to an IP address, enabling the connection.

The Privacy Risks of Traditional DNS

Unencrypted DNS queries pose significant privacy and censorship risks. Since these queries are sent in plaintext, ISPs or other entities monitoring your network can log the websites you visit. This logging is often the simplest way for ISPs to track browsing history, sometimes to comply with legal requirements. Additionally, governments may enforce censorship by instructing ISPs to block DNS queries to specific domains, restricting access to certain websites or applications.

Bypassing Censorship with Third-Party DNS

Using a third-party DNS resolver, especially one located outside your country, can help bypass basic censorship measures. By routing DNS queries through international servers, users can access content that might be restricted locally. However, this does not fully protect your browsing activity, as ISPs can still monitor connections or block specific IP addresses with more advanced techniques.

What is Private DNS?

Private DNS enhances security by encrypting DNS queries between your device and a DNS server, preventing ISPs or network observers from reading them. This encryption ensures that your browsing destinations remain hidden, offering a significant improvement over traditional unencrypted DNS.

Private DNS Protocols

Private DNS operates using one of three main protocols:

• DNS-over-TLS (DoT): Encrypts DNS queries using the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol over port 853. While secure, DoT traffic is identifiable, making it easier for networks to block or monitor.
• DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH): Encrypts DNS queries within HTTPS traffic over port 443, blending them with regular web traffic. This makes DoH harder to detect and more resistant to censorship.
• DNSCrypt: An older protocol with advanced features but limited support in modern operating systems and browsers, often requiring third-party software.

For most users, DoH offers the best balance of privacy and compatibility, as it integrates seamlessly with existing web traffic. DoT is simpler for network administrators to implement, while DNSCrypt’s limited adoption makes it less practical.

Private DNS vs. VPN: A Privacy Comparison

While private DNS improves query privacy, it does not match the comprehensive protection of a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your entire internet connection, routing all traffic, including DNS queries, through a secure tunnel to a VPN server. This prevents ISPs from seeing both the websites you visit and their corresponding IP addresses. Websites only see the VPN server’s IP, not your real one, enhancing anonymity.

Private DNS, by contrast, only encrypts DNS queries, leaving other internet traffic visible to ISPs. Sophisticated monitoring can still track your activity by analyzing connection patterns or blocking specific IPs.

Why You Should Avoid Using Private DNS with a VPN

Using private DNS alongside a VPN is unnecessary and potentially risky. Most reputable VPNs, like those offered at dedicated-ip-vpn.com, operate their own DNS servers, routing queries through the encrypted VPN tunnel. This eliminates the need for separate private DNS protocols. Configuring a third-party private DNS service may cause DNS leaks, where queries bypass the VPN tunnel, undermining its privacy protections.

To ensure optimal security, rely on your VPN’s built-in DNS resolution and avoid configuring third-party DNS services. For setup guidance, refer to our setup guide.

How to Enable Private DNS

To use private DNS without a VPN, select a reputable DNS resolver that supports DoT or DoH. Popular options include:

• Cloudflare (1.1.1.1): A commercial service with anonymized query logging, supporting both DoT and DoH.
• Quad9: A nonprofit provider that avoids storing personally identifiable data, supporting DoH.
• OpenNIC: A decentralized, volunteer-run network with varying privacy policies and protocol support, depending on the server.

You can configure private DNS at the operating system level or within your browser. Modern systems and browsers, such as Firefox (which defaults to Cloudflare’s DoH), support these protocols natively. Check your device’s network settings or browser preferences to enable private DNS with your chosen provider.

Choosing the Right DNS Provider

Select a provider with a strong privacy policy and support for DoH or DoT. Be cautious with services that log identifiable data, as this reduces the privacy benefits of private DNS.

Pricing Considerations for VPN Services

If you opt for a VPN to maximize privacy, consider the following plans for secure browsing and DNS resolution:

All plans include a Dedicated IP, Port Forwarding, Unlimited Bandwidth, a No-logs Policy, and support for WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols. For detailed pricing, visit our pricing page.

Final Thoughts

Private DNS significantly enhances the privacy and security of DNS queries compared to traditional unencrypted DNS, making it a valuable tool for bypassing basic censorship and ISP logging. However, for comprehensive privacy protection, a VPN is far superior, as it encrypts all internet traffic and masks your IP address. When using a VPN, avoid private DNS to prevent potential leaks and rely on the VPN’s integrated DNS resolution for optimal security.