If you care about online privacy it is imperative to stay safe from DNS leaks. DNS is short form for Domain Name System and, in short, it is the tool used to translate domain names such as www.bestreviews.net into a specific numerical IP addresses as in 123.456.789.000. However, not all DNS connections are completely safe, as leaks may happen when your device communicates with a determined server. As a countermeasure, many VPN providers already feature DNS leak protection on all supported devices, because they recognize it as a major privacy threat. In addition, many ISPs assign their respective customers a specific DNS server which they can control and use for logging and recording all your internet traffic.
Every time you enter a URL, your device – whether it’s a computer, smartphone or tablet – contacts a DNS server and requests the IP address. This is where DNS leaks can occur. Whenever a leak is happening, it means that your traffic is not being successfully routed through the anonymity network. This means that your traffic is wide open for monitoring by your ISP and any third parties, and almost anyone is able to log your activity. Having DNS exposed won’t cause any damage if only the ISP sees it (unless you abuse the bandwidth), but it can also lead to serious implications. Wrongdoers have the means to easily replace the DNS server and send you a wrong IP address for a certain site. In short, you may get redirected to a proxy site or a phishing site that steals your private data. VPNs do prevent this as they provide secure end-to-end tunnels for your information to pass.
Before you try fixing a DNS leak, you should check whether you are affected or not. Fortunately, a quick visit to DNSLeak.com (a service brought to you by Private Internet Access) or the commonly known DNSLeakTest.com will tell you in a couple of seconds if your connection is leaking. If on the results you see your own country and ISP listed, you’ll know that your ISP can monitor your connection.
Using a VPN with proper DNS leak prevention will assure that the DNS request is directed to an anonymous DNS server through your VPN, and not directly through your browser. This is what keeps your ISP in the dark since you are now using only the DNS server provided by the VPN and not the one provided by your ISP. If you are connected to a VPN but still experience DNS leaks, then there are also a few steps mentioned on the aforementioned websites that will help you manually fix them.
IPVanish made a strong entrance as a VPN service provider in 2012, long before VPNs became so common, and it’s been further improving its service ever since. Fundamentally, this solution specializes in providing customers with secure and encrypted internet connections across all devices.
Offering customers an impressive 2,200 servers worldwide to choose from, IPVanish is both comprehensive and reliable. It’s also one of the few VPN providers that manage a big portion of its infrastructure in-house, owning 80% of its servers and only using self-developed software for its service. This reduces the company’s reliance on third parties, making it an even more trustworthy option.
As one of the strongest VPNs on the market, IPVanish also boasts a vast range of features that not only provide faster speeds but also permit a custom encryption level and all other elements of a VPN connection. With prices starting as low as $2.99 per month, users certainly get a lot for their money.
NordVPN has already managed to conquer the market by being one of the most reputable and trustworthy services ever made. Among its vast arsenal of features, the close attention given to security is one of the major highlights, thanks to the presence of an automatic kill switch, protection against DNS leaks, ads and malware, and even double VPN servers.
Speaking of which, these are only some of NordVPN’s special servers that compose a global network filled with unusual locations, P2P countries, support for Onion over VPN, and more. NordVPN has a handful of different subscriptions in the form of simple apps for all kinds of devices and user types.
For as little as $3.99 per month, users can enjoy all the perks of having a secure and high-speed VPN. Plus, a generous refund policy allows you to get your money back if you decide NordVPN isn’t for you during the first 30 days.
With an extensive server network spanning 105 countries, apps for all major platforms, and even extra security tools like an ad blocker, ExpressVPN delivers all you need for a private and secure online experience.
The software is easy to use across all devices, and the speed trumps many of its competitors, making it one of the fastest VPNs on the market. Android and iOS customers can make the most of a 7-day free trial with unlimited bandwidth and everyone can enjoy three months for free when opting for annual billing.
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