Using Android Private DNS and DNS Over TLS

In this tutorial, we will explore how to use Android Private DNS and DNS Over TLS to enhance your privacy and security while browsing the internet on your Android device.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the steps, make sure you have the following:

• An Android device running Android 9 (Pie) or above.
• A Wi-Fi network to connect your Android device to.

What is DNS (Domain Name System)?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is responsible for translating human-readable domain names (e.g., www.example.com) into IP addresses. When you visit a website, your device sends a DNS query to a DNS server to look up the IP address associated with that domain name.

Why Use Private DNS and DNS Over TLS?

By default, Android devices use the DNS server provided by your internet service provider (ISP). However, this can lead to privacy concerns as your ISP can track and log your internet traffic. Additionally, unencrypted DNS queries can be vulnerable to DNS hijacking attacks.

Using Android Private DNS and DNS Over TLS provides increased privacy and security by ensuring DNS queries are encrypted and preventing potential eavesdropping.

Enabling Private DNS

To enable Private DNS on your Android device, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Scroll down and tap on Network & internet.
3. Tap on Advanced to expand the advanced network settings.
4. Select Private DNS from the list of options.
5. You will see three options: "Automatic", "Off", and "Private DNS provider hostname". Select the Private DNS provider hostname option.
6. Enter the hostname of your preferred DNS server that supports DNS over TLS. For example, you can use "dns.google" or "cloudflare-dns.com".
7. Tap on Save to apply the changes.

Note: The availability of Private DNS may vary depending on your device manufacturer and Android version. If you don't see the Private DNS option, consider updating your device or using a different device that supports this feature.

Configuring DNS Over TLS (optional)

If you want to take privacy and security further, you can use DNS over TLS along with Private DNS. This ensures that your DNS queries are encrypted when communicating with the DNS server.

To configure DNS over TLS on your Android device, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Scroll down and tap on Network & internet.
3. Tap on Advanced to expand the advanced network settings.
4. Select Private DNS from the list of options.
5. Tap on Private DNS provider hostname to modify the DNS server settings.
6. Append :853 to the hostname you entered earlier. For example, if you entered "dns.google", change it to "dns.google:853".
7. Tap on Save to apply the changes.

Verifying Private DNS and DNS Over TLS

To verify that Private DNS and DNS Over TLS are working correctly on your Android device, follow these steps:

1. Open a web browser on your Android device.
2. Visit a website.
3. Open another tab or a new window and type "chrome://net-internals/#dns" in the URL bar.
4. Scroll down and find the hostname of the website you visited earlier.
5. Check the Status column. If it shows "OK" or "Secure", it means that Private DNS and DNS Over TLS are working.

Congratulations! You have successfully enabled and configured Android Private DNS and DNS Over TLS.

Conclusion

By using Android Private DNS and DNS Over TLS, you can enhance your privacy and security while browsing the internet on your Android device. Private DNS encrypts your DNS queries and prevents potential eavesdropping, while DNS Over TLS adds an additional layer of encryption. Enjoy a more secure browsing experience and take control of your DNS settings on Android!