• Why I always encrypt my web browsing - and the top free secure DNS services I trust Follow ZDNET:Add us as a preferred sourceon Google ZDNET key takeaways Private DNS is a must these days. • If you’re not already using it, consider one of these options. • You can use most of these services for free. • You might think the security of your PC, laptop, phone, or tablet ends withan antivirus, malware, and firewall combination. • Although those tools are a good start, there’s one area you should seriously consider:DNS. • DNS, or Domain Name System, is responsible for translating human-readable domain names (such aszdnet.com) to machine-readable IP addresses (such as 199.232.194.154).

Article Summaries:

  • The article explains why the author encrypts all web traffic and recommends free secure DNS services. It stresses that DNS, which translates domain names to IP addresses, is often exposed in plain text, allowing ISPs and eavesdroppers to see browsing habits. Secure DNS (DoH/DoT) encrypts these queries, protecting privacy and preventing tampering. The author lists three popular options: Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4) with TLS 1.3 and no logging; Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1/1.0.0.1) offering DoH/DoT, DDoS mitigation, and 24‑hour log deletion; and Quad9, which adds malicious‑lookup blocking. All services are free and suitable for PCs, phones, and Wi‑Fi networks.

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