![]() At most, all your ISP can see is that you’re connected to a VPN provider. Luckily, online tracking like this can be prevented by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to keep your online travels under wraps.Ī VPN routes your online connection and all of its DNS requests through their own VPN servers, keeping them from prying eyes. In some countries, the United States included, ISPs can sell these logs to advertisers and other third parties without needing your approval to do so. In many countries, these DNS server logs can be subpoenaed by the government, law enforcement agencies or entertainment industry lawyers to allow them to track your activities on the web. Resource requests are recorded in a log, along with the IP address of the customer who requested the address, the date and time of day, and other sundry information. This is a privacy concern, as your internet traffic passes through your ISP’s DNS servers, which record your data. Unless you have customized your computer, mobile device or router to use a different source for DNS, your DNS requests will go to DNS servers owned and operated by your Internet Service Provider. How the Domain Name System Allows Others toĪs I mentioned in the section above, when you enter the domain name of a website in your browser, the request goes to a DNS server, where the website’s IP address is found. While this is a logical and convenient way to manage internet traffic, it opens up a large can of worms when it comes to your online privacy. All of this usually happens in the blink of an eye. The request is then forwarded to the correct server, and the website loads in your browser window. When you enter a website address in the address bar of your favorite browser, the address is sent to a DNS server, which looks up the IP address for that domain name. While some of you may be able to memorize such a long string of numbers (and you know who you are), it’s much easier to remember to type in “” to visit my website. The Domain Name System is a decentralized naming system for online resources, such as computers and other services.ĭNS translates domain names into IP addresses, removing the need for a user to memorize long strings of numbers in order to access websites and services while connected to the internet.įor example, the site you’re visiting at the moment carries an IP address of “104.27.166.50”. Table of Contents What Is the Domain Name System (DNS)? How the Domain Name System Allows Others to Track You Online What Is a DNS Leak? How Can I Tell If My VPN Has a DNS Leak? DNS Leaks: Problems and Solutions How Can I Prevent DNS Leaks in the Future? Conclusion What Is the Domain Name System (DNS)? ![]() In this article, I’ll explain how DNS servers can be a threat to your privacy, what a DNS leak is and how you can fix it. Perhaps one of the most important services on the internet is one that I’m betting most people never give a second thought to: the Domain Name System (DNS).
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