Android allows you to add a private DNS manually on the device, in order to – among other things – improve privacy, filter advertising or increase connection speed. However, everything will depend on the DNS servers you use, not all of them offer the same quality or benefits. Let's learn more details about this system and how to configure them on your computer.
What is a DNS?
A Domain Name System (DNS) works like a a kind of web address directory. When a user searches for information on the Internet, he or she must use domain names; for example, todoandroid.is.
When the request is made, the web browser establishes communication with the servers to locate where the domain is located. What DNS does is translate those names into IP addresses., this being the method in which the servers communicate.
With a DNS, users do not have to type site addresses such as 192.168.0.0 into the browser's URL. Instead, they enter the name of the brand, product or service they are going to and the respective conversions are made internally.
How to add a DNS to my Android device
Android allows you to add private DNS to your network settings. This increases privacy when browsing the web. Google has allowed you to add these private DNS since Android 9, and to do so you have to follow these steps:
- Enter the Android settings.
- Locate the section «access points or connection«.
- You will see the option «Private DNS«.
- You probably have the option set to automatically take private DNS.
- If you have a DNS that you can use, add it manually if your device allows it.
It is important to note that if you add a public DNS to your mobile, The company that owns that address will be able to have a record of all the activity you have on your mobile phone.With private DNS, the guarantees are a little greater because they have TLS and HTTPS protocols, encrypted packets and protection against eavesdropping. Choose carefully which domain to use before adding it to avoid an information leak.
Private DNS can be expensive, but they are much better than public ones. Their price can vary depending on the service and plan you request. However, you can always count on Google's public DNS, which are well-known and quite secure: 8.8.8.8 and 4.4.4.4. There are also the ones from Cloudflare and they are: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. Check how privacy can be improved with these DNS and Tell us how it went with them.