Last Updated: February 14, 2020.
Multiple things go into accessing web sites and one of the countless and material things that you practice and conceivably don’t know much about is the DNS server. The Domain Name System (DNS) does an incredibly significant task translating where you want to go and get you there pronto.
Here’s what the DNS indicates – everything on the internet is a sequence of numbers known as an IP address. Your computer has its own unique internet protocol address as well. So do the most influential web sites like Amazon. These sites all have unique, numeric IP addresses. Obviously, asking people to remember numeric IP addresses is a bridge too far, and that’s why DNS is in your life.
You will type in the name of a website and DNS works to translate the domain name into the IP address so you can access the information you want.
Once you understand the function of a DNS, you can really get into making connections happen quicker. An effective DNS means you access the information you want with greater productivity and if you are pulling on building a site, having your site connected to big DNS systems is important. However, one thing about larger sites is they are usually cached on a DNS, which is why accessing these sites is easier than the site of an out of the way small business.
There are some solid grounds for changing to the fastest DNS Server in the world and when you know how to find the right one, that makes your life on the internet much more relaxed. Here’s how to switch your DNS server.
Assess Where You May Have DNS Difficulty
The most prominent areas of DNS difficulty start with the caching process. If you are seeming at getting to a site and want it to get there promptly, then you need a DNS that has a sweeping caching process. If a cache is difficult to get to, that starts chafing at people who are waiting for their browser to show the information they requested. There are numerous reasons for this, and one of them has to do with your ISP.
If your ISP is running part of your request through a search engine, that means
ads will download, and the additional download time will eat into the quick
response time that you require. For businesses, having a quick DNS does more
than merely getting it advertised.
It shows your customers how efficient you are, and that’s one of the unsaid things that will sell people on your company. So, if you find that your response times when requesting sites – including common ones – are noticeably longer, then you need to explore changing your DNS server.
DNS Attacks
The more nefarious issue comes from attacks using a DNS. A simple way for people to get your information is to set up dummy sites that look like real sites. So, if you type in the domain for PayPal and unwittingly misspell the site’s name, you get taken to a site that looks remarkably like PayPal.
The problem is when you input your login credentials then you are giving hackers your actual PayPal information in this case. Another issue comes with cache poisoning. This is very dangerous because you can type in a legitimate site and the poisoned cache takes you to a nefarious site.
Another issue, DNS hijacking, is a local issue, meaning you have malware on your computer that instead of taking your request to a legitimate DNS, it takes it to a DNS that feeds you to hackers. Therefore, security issues are another reason you should explore changing your DNS server.
The Best DNS Servers
The good news is there are some great DNS servers out there for you to connect to. The three most popular DNS servers are Google Public DNS, OpenDNS, and Cloudflare. These DNS providers all have great security which means the DNS can’t be corrupted like the one that is not well cared for by your ISP.
Furthermore, besides corruption, one thing all of these DNS servers are on the offensive against is DDoS attacks. These are attacks when an overwhelming number of bots make baffling requests in an attempt to slow down a DNS. Security is paramount with these services and with a long history of providing top-notch DNS services, you can rest easy with them.
Changing the DNS on Your Router
The good news about changing your router’s DNS is any device connecting with the router – even your garage door – will automatically work on these changes. The bad news is if you are looking for a one size fits all solution then you won’t find it.
The protocol to changing your DNS server varies based on the brand of your router. If you have a router that is supplied by your ISP, this could be quite difficult, so try to consult with your ISP’s router brand to see what is the best way to change your DNS.
Changing the DNS on Your LaptopWhile changing it on your router affects all devices on your router, what about when you are taking a device outside of your network such as your laptop? Well, if you have Windows 10, here are the steps:
- Click the Windows button
- Select the Settings option
- Select Network & Internet
- Choose Change Adapter
- Choose Properties after right-clicking on Properties
- Click on Internet Protocol Version 4 and then select Properties
- Click where you want to use the following DNS Server Addresses
- Enter the DNS server addresses and then click OK
- Do the same thing for Internet Protocol Version 6
here are the steps if your laptop is having MacOS:
- Choose the Preferences option from Apple Menu
- Launch app for the Network
- Click the Advanced button after highlighting your Wi-Fi connection
- Select the DNS tab
- Add IPv4 and IPv6 DNS addresses with the plus sign, remove old DNS addresses with the minus sign
- Once you have finished doing this, you have changed your DNS and are working with better systems.
Rundown
If you are about to shift your website to a different hosting provider, i.e. to lead it to another server on the Internet, which requires changing your domain name’s name servers as well, you should remember that all the services related to the resolution of your domain name will go offline.
So, here’s the summary. DNS servers translate human-trusted domain names to machine-familiar IP addresses. You’re plausibly using a DNS server supplied by your ISP, one whose quality is unknown. Switching to a third-party DNS service can both expedite your internet venture and protect against keen-witted DNS-Based attacks.