With the use of an alternative DNS provider like OpenDNS or Google’s Public DNS, you can increase security and improve performance at the same time. It will be worth it to compare your alternatives.
The Domain Name System (DNS) is the one we use and depend on, however, we do not really pay much attention to it. If you have some time investigating alternatives, you could really enhance your network’s presentation and security.
Before knowing how to do this, let us have a brief explanation about DNS. You can think of what a phone book does. It allows you to check someone’s phone number by browsing through the name of the entries. The DNS works similar for computers. For instance, if you type in “google.com”, it will translate that name into a sequence of four numbers, called IP address, which functions just like the phone number does. Checking this case, google.com’s number is set as 74.125.95.104.
The overall Internet infrastructure contains a series of master phone books, also called DNS root servers, found at strategic places ‘round the world and upheld by a collection of public, semi-public, and private providers. Talking to each other on a regular basis, they make sure that new domains are always in synch.
Just imagine, if someone wants to “destroy” one of the entries, or misdirect the Internet traffic to a phony domain, the right amount of subterfuge should be used. The same is what happened in 2008 when an Internet provider in Pakistan was able to block the access to all YouTube visitors when they banned the site to all Pakistanis.
Make the call
Different from phone numbers, once you are done setting up your network, you don’t normally give your DNS settings any additional thought. If you have a cable or DSL modem, you can hook it up and it mechanically gets its DNS settings from the cable or phone company’s DNS servers, that way, the IP address becomes unknown to you unless you take the time to check it. In case you run a large enterprise network, naturally you have your own internal DNS server to provide such service.
You can see a lot of alternative providers like OpenDNS and Google’s Public DNS. Why choose an alternative provider? First reason: because of better browsing performance and better security, which give protection from known phishing and malware-infected domains.
Assessing which of the alternative DNS providers give your users better performance is complicated. Many will depend on how you are connected to the ISP assigned to you, also their location, and your destination across the Internet.
Before picking an alternative DNS provider, a Java program can be used to test the speed of your own DNS vs Google and OpenDNS. Here are some sites you can visit for more details: The Browser Mob Blog (learning more about the Java tool); TechSutra or Habitually Good (getting information about OpenDNS vs. Google comparisons).
Change up
Changing your DNS settings for your PC or for your overall network, normally at your DHCP server or cable modem or router, you can check out any of the alternative providers that offer their services free. Some like OpenDNS, offer a lot more than just the mapping of IP addresses.
These are some instructions for changing the DNS settings. These instructions to implementing the change should not take you more than a couple of minutes.
• Google Public DNS
• OpenDNS
Only few other pleasant things about using the alternative providers can be found today. First thing is your choice to block objectionable domains, this can help you to protect yourself from possible lawsuits over workplace harassment claims.
Google and OpenDNS both spend time blocking known exploit domains, this means you have a better chance of being protected from hackers.
For your information, you can get better DNS service, since these providers have servers that will return the domains evidently quicker than the ones for the general Internet. For more advantage, common typos in domains are caught, hence if you are a type who commits several mistakes in typing URLs into your browser, Google and OpenDNS can frequently direct you to the place you prefer to be in.
Alternative lifestyle
The alternative DNS’s are like the first step in securing DNS resources. For more information, a good place to start is with Paul Vixie’s 2008 blog post. Vixie is one of the original Wise Men of the Internet. He has been involved in authoring numerous RFPs (Requests for Proposals) and protocols. He and others are part of a considerable attempt happening to create a new series of safe DNS protocol extensions and products to support these extensions.