Your ISP (internet service provider) can potentially see your DNS (Domain Name System) requests if they are not encrypted or if they are routed through the ISP’s own DNS servers.
DNS requests are used to translate human-readable domain names (such as www.google.com) into machine-readable IP addresses that can be used to access websites and other online resources. When you make a DNS request, it is sent to a DNS server, which looks up the corresponding IP address and returns it to your device.
If your DNS requests are not encrypted, your ISP can potentially see the domain names that you are accessing and the corresponding IP addresses. This could potentially allow your ISP to track your internet activity and potentially block or censor certain websites or services.
To protect your privacy and security, it is a good idea to use an encrypted DNS service, such as one provided by a VPN (virtual private network) or a third-party DNS provider. This can help to prevent your ISP from seeing your DNS requests and potentially tracking your internet activity.
How can I stop my ISP from seeing my DNS requests?
There are several ways you can prevent your ISP (internet service provider) from seeing your DNS (Domain Name System) requests:
- Use a VPN: By default, when you are connected to a VPN your DNS requests will be handled by that provider. Some VPNs even allow you to specify your own custom DNS service. However, ensure that your VPN service is not leaking DNS requests.
- Use an encrypted DNS service: One option is to use an encrypted DNS service, such as one provided by a VPN (virtual private network) or a third-party DNS provider. This can help to prevent your ISP from seeing your DNS requests and potentially tracking your internet activity.
- Use a DNS over HTTPS (DoH) service: Another option is to use a DNS over HTTPS (DoH) service, which encrypts DNS requests using the HTTPS protocol. This can help to prevent your ISP from seeing your DNS requests and potentially tracking your internet activity.
- Use a local DNS resolver: Some operating systems, such as Linux, allow you to use a local DNS resolver, which can help to prevent your ISP from seeing your DNS requests. A local DNS resolver is a software program that runs on your device and handles DNS requests locally, rather than sending them to a remote DNS server.
- Use a privacy-focused DNS provider: Some DNS providers, such as Cloudflare and Quad9, offer privacy-focused DNS services that can help to protect your privacy by not logging your DNS requests or selling your data to third parties.
By using one of these methods, you can help to prevent your ISP from seeing your DNS requests and potentially tracking your internet activity. It is important to note that these methods are not foolproof and may not provide complete protection against all forms of surveillance or tracking.