DNS (Domain Name System) translates domain names into numerical IP addresses, and it plays an integral role in how we connect to the Internet.
Most users would likely be using the DNS server provided by their ISP, but that is far from ideal. Not only does using the ISP’s DNS server involve privacy issues, but it can also weaken security.
As an alternative, public DNS servers provide more privacy, better security, and can even be faster than the ISP’s DNS server. You can check each public DNS server’s speed by pinging its associated IP address.
Open a Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Terminal, type in ping followed by the IP address, and hit Enter.
I have listed each public DNS server’s ping time in the article, but you need to remember that this is relevant to Australia only and will differ according to your specific location. Here then are some of the best public DNS servers.
Cloudflare DNS
Is my number one choice in terms of both privacy and security. Cloudflare never records IP addresses and deletes all operational logs after 24 hours, as independently verified. It’s also among the fastest of the public DNS servers.
- Basic: Primary 1.1.1.1
Secondary 1.0.0.1 - Block Malware: 1.1.1.2
Secondary 1..0.0.2 - Block Malware & Adult Content: 1.1.1.3
Secondary 1.0.0.3
Quad9
Quad9 is based in Switzerland. Quad9 never logs IP addresses and is fully GDPR-compliant. It provides security beyond DNSSEC and DoH by blocking known bad websites that harbor malware or harvest user credentials.
- Including malware blocking & DNSSEC validation: Primary 9..9.9.9
- Secondary 149.112.112.112
OpenDNS
OpenDNS has a global presence and provides malware/phishing protection by default. However, its acquisition by Cisco in 2015 has raised serious privacy concerns; it logs all DNS queries, IP addresses, and more. Fast, ultra-reliable, and secure, but privacy issues might be a put-off for some.
- Primary: 208.67.222.222
- Secondary: 208.67.220.220
Google Public DNS
Provides a robust and reliable service with fast response times. Google DNS supports DNS over HTTPS, DNSSEC, and offers some protection against DDoS attacks. Google DNS rates highly for reliability and security, but not so much for privacy.
Everyone knows (or should know) about the privacy issues with Google. However, if you’re already active in the Googlesphere – using Gmail, Google search engine, Chrome, etc. – it’s doubtful that Google will learn more about you than it already knows.
- Primary: 8.8.8.8
- Secondary: 8.8.4.4
A note on ping times: As mentioned earlier, these will differ according to your location. However, it’s important to note that ping times are recoded in milliseconds, so the difference between (say) 10ms and 20ms will be barely noticeable. Speed is a consideration, of course, but shouldn’t take precedence over privacy and/or security.
BOTTOM LINE:
In my opinion, as far as public DNS servers are concerned, it’s difficult to go past Cloudflare.
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