This guide will list out the steps to use a Private DNS Server on an Android device. While the users deal with the website in the form of example.com, however, the web browsers wouldn’t be able to understand this naming convention. Instead, they would want the IP address associated with that URL to complete the request and open the said website. This is where the role of a Domain Name Server comes in handy.
It translates the website name into an IP Address and gives it to your website so that it can complete the request and load the resulting website. Moreover, by default, your Internet Service Provider would already have assigned you a DNS, however, that will just be a barebone one without any features as such. This is why many users prefer to opt for a custom DNS which provides a ton of goodies.
From a faster loading time to more a secure connection or even the ability to block ads, each of these custom DNS has its own set of USPs. So in this guide, we will outline the instructions that could be used to implement a custom DNS on an Android device and in turn let the users reap the rewards associated with those servers. Follow along.
List of Best Custom DNS Servers
Here are some of the best custom Domain Name Servers that one could use on their Android devices:
Google DNS: dns.google Cloudflare: 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com Open DNS: 208.67.222.222 AdGuard: dns.adguard.com Quad9: dns.quad9.net Cleanbrowsing: security-filter-dns.cleanbrowsing.org NextDNS: 45.90.28.0 Comodo Secure: 8.26.56.26 OpenNIC: 192.95.54.3
How to Use a Private DNS Server on Android
- To begin with, head over to Settings > Network and Internet.
- Then go to Private DNS > Private DNS Provider Hostname.
- Now type in the IP of the desired DNS Server given above.
- For example, if you wish to use the AdGuard DNS to block ads, then type in the below address:
dns.adguard.com
- Finally hit Save. Now relaunch the browser and the changes corresponding to the DNS will be reflected right away.
- For instance, since we have used a DNS corresponding to ad blockers, we will no longer see ads across any website.
That’s it. These were the steps to use a custom DNS Server on Android. Still, have any doubts? The comments section is all yours, make your voices heard there and we’ll chalk out the best fix for you.
What are the Benefits of Private DNS Server
While each server has its own set of USPs, they could still be broadly categorized under two domains- privacy-focused and ad-blocking. For instance, Cloudflare, Cloud9, and OpenDNS strictly focus on providing a secret and privacy-enriched browsing experience. They do so by encrypting your DNS queries and thereby preventing third-party services from monitoring your web activities. Not to mention the fact that they also prevent you from phishing and botnet attacks.
OpenDNS also has the Content Filtering functionality which will help parents to stop their children from visiting certain websites. Adblock has its eyes set on giving you an ads-free ecosystem while you browse the web. Then if we talk about the offering from Google, then it’s a free service that does a more than decent job in preventing DNS spoofing and DDoS attacks. Apart from these, you also have third-party DNS servers such as the one from Nord that you may have a look at.
What are the Drawbacks of Private DNS Servers
One important thing to keep in mind is that your Private DNS will only be as strong as your ISP’s infrastructure. If your Internet Service Provider is having an issue, then its direct advser impact will be faced by the Private DNS as well and it has no magic wand to rectify that issue. It will only be able to address those issues which are within its ecosystem.
Moreover, these DNS queries usually don’t have any data about the clients who initiated the requests. This is because the server side will only see the IP address from where the query first came from, thereby giving hackers the perfect platform to manipulate or modify the information based on their requirements.
All in all, while Private DNS is a must for businesses, industries, corporations, and even offices, many individual users still don’t feel the need to get into these technicalities. However, it is high time now that we all begin to incorporate these Private DNS servers into our network so as to get a safe and secure browsing experience.
What are your views on the same? Are you inclined towards using a private server or is it asking too much to deal with and you are satisfied wit your current public DNS provided by the ISP? Do let us know your valuable opinion in the comments section below.
