Private DNS simplified - How it protects your android device

Devasish Saikia Ranger

01-09 20:59

Imagine you’re in a city looking for a restaurant. You know the name of the place, but not its exact location. So, you ask a local guide who looks it up on their map and directs you. Now, replace the city with the internet, the restaurant with a website, and the guide with a Domain Name System (DNS)—the middleman translating human-friendly website names (like example.com) into machine-readable IP addresses (like 192.168.1.1).

This process is crucial for the internet to work, but here’s the catch: most DNS queries happen in plain text, visible to anyone who cares to look—including your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or even malicious actors or unethical hackers. That’s where Private DNS comes in—a modern bodyguard for your online activities, particularly on Android devices.


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Let’s start with the basics. DNS is essentially the internet’s phonebook. When you type a URL into your browser, your device sends a query to a DNS server to find the corresponding IP address.

For example:

  • You type www.google.com in your browser.
  • The DNS server replies with Google’s IP address: 142.250.190.78.

Simple, right?

But here’s the problem: this query, if unencrypted, is like yelling your request out loud in a crowded room. Your ISP, advertisers, or even cybercriminals can listen in, learn where you’re going online, and use that information however they please.

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Think of Private DNS as a secure line to the guide. Instead of shouting, it encrypts your request using protocols like DNS over TLS (DoT) or DNS over HTTPS (DoH), so only the intended recipient can understand it. Here’s how it works:

  1. Encryption: Your DNS requests are scrambled into a code that only the DNS server can decode, shielding them from prying eyes.
  2. Authentication: It ensures you’re talking to a legitimate DNS server, not an imposter (preventing DNS spoofing, a common hacking trick).
  3. Consistency: Once set up, Private DNS applies system-wide, protecting all apps and services on your Android device.

Imagine visiting your bank’s website on a public Wi-Fi. If someone intercepts your DNS query and redirects you to a fake site, you could unknowingly hand over your credentials. This is a real threat called DNS hijacking, and Private DNS is your first line of defense.

Other perks include:

  • Privacy: Stops ISPs from tracking and selling your browsing habits.
  • Security on Public Wi-Fi: Protects you on shared networks, like coffee shop hotspots.

How to Set Up Private DNS on Android


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Setting up Private DNS is as easy as switching your Wi-Fi on. Here’s how:

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced > Private DNS.

2. Select Private DNS Provider Hostname.

3. Enter a provider’s address, like:

  - dns.google (Google Public DNS)

  - 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com (Cloudflare DNS)

That’s it! Your device will now send encrypted DNS queries.

The Myth

Are you a gamer and annoyed with high ping? Somehow you might have stumbled upon various sites suggesting private DNS to get rid of such issues but the idea that turning on Private DNS increases internet speed is mostly a myth, though there are specific cases where it might have an indirect impact. Here’s the truth:

Private DNS focuses on privacy and security rather than speed. It encrypts DNS queries, preventing ISPs or malicious actors from snooping on your internet activity. So, it may translate in to:

1. Increased Latency (Possible Slowdown):

Encryption requires additional processing, which can slightly increase latency compared to traditional unencrypted DNS queries. This means the DNS lookup process might take a fraction of a second longer.

2. Improved Speed (Under Certain Conditions)

  • If your default DNS server is unreliable, slow, or poorly maintained, switching to a faster and more reliable Private DNS provider (like Google Public DNS or Cloudflare) can reduce DNS resolution time and make websites load faster.
  • By avoiding ISP-level interference or rerouting, Private DNS can sometimes provide a more direct path to a website, resulting in slightly faster loading times.

3. Network Congestion:


Private DNS won’t directly affect download/upload speeds or reduce network congestion caused by your ISP or other factors.


Why It Matters

Think of Private DNS as locking the door before going to bed—it’s simple, essential, and gives peace of mind. By using Private DNS on your Android device, you take control of your online privacy and protect yourself from digital threats.


Signing off

Devasish Saikia

IQOO Ranger


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