DNS Server / DNS Provider
How to configure DNS
In Windows, Ethernet settings -> DNS Server assignment. If that does not work, Control Panel -> Network -> View network status -> Ethernet -> Properties -> Manually edit IPv4 and IPv6 entries DNS settings.
On Android, Network -> Private DNS -> Enter Private DNS hostname
Adguard DNS
Adguard DNS provides free public DNS servers which block ads and trackers on the domain level. (This means it does not block all forms of ads and trackers, but categorically blocks big and centralized ones.)
Adguard DNS is related to the Adguard Ad Blocker and Adguard VPN services. Apart from the public DNS, Adguard DNS provides free and paid plans for DNS services (custom DNS servers).
Website: https://adguard-dns.io/en/public-dns.html
| Protocol | Primary | Secondary (fallback) |
|---|---|---|
| IPv4 | 94.140.14.14 |
94.140.15.15 |
| IPv6 | 2a10:50c0::ad1:ff |
2a10:50c0::ad2:ff |
| Private DNS provider hostname | dns.adguard-dns.com |
Adguard DNS provides 3 alternatives. The default DNS server (listed above):
- Blocks ads (advertisement-serving hostnames)
- Blocks trackers
The alternatives are unfiltered and family-protection. Family-protection blocks ads, trackers, adult content, and “enables safe search and safe mode where possible” (whatever that means).
Cloudflare
Cloudflare provides a free public DNS server. Cloudflare is a “connectivity cloud” service provider, providing various services around web content distribution like CDN or a CAPTCHA alternative.
Website: https://1.1.1.1/dns/
| Protocol | Primary | Secondary (fallback) |
|---|---|---|
| IPv4 | 1.1.1.1 |
1.0.0.1 |
| IPv6 | 2606:4700:4700::1111 |
2606:4700:4700::1001 |
Quad9
Website: https://www.quad9.net/
| Protocol | Primary | Secondary (fallback) |
|---|---|---|
| IPv4 | 9.9.9.9 |
149.112.112.112 |
| IPv6 | 2620:fe::fe |
2620:fe::9 |
Quad9 provides 3 alternatives. The default, recommended DNS server (listed above):
- Privacy: Does not log any IP addresses on DNS requests. Has no EDNS enabled, which could otherwise leak information.
- Security: Blocks Malware (-serving) domains
The alternatives are one with EDNS enabled, and an unfiltered one.
Quad 9 servers are distributed world-wide. The organization jurisdiction is Switzerland. They publish transparency reports.
Caveats
I used Quad9 DNS for a while. I noticed one false-positive blocking a (niche popular) file hoster. Even if it had malware files, it has many other legit files. Apparently they include/pull block lists from third parties. The Quad9 website offers querying for DNS resolution directly, with block information, and a false positive reporting form.