Delivering high-speed residential and business broadband is what we do best and every connection deserves to be as secure and fast as possible.

In this blog, we explore DNS servers; what they are, what they do and how you can switch to the best free public DNS servers out there. Keep reading to find out more as well as a list of some of the free DNS servers you can use as alternative options.

What is DNS?

A DNS server is a bit like an address or phone book for the internet. It knows the IP address of every single site on the web.

When you type a web address or domain name (like quickline.co.uk) into the browser address bar, your computer contacts the DNS server, which translates this into the IP address. Your computer then connects to this IP address – so you can access the right web page.

Essentially, it turns the letters and words you type into your browser address bar, into the information the computer needs to find and access the website.

Do I need to change my DNS?

No, Quickline offer fast and reliable, safe DNS servers by default. However we absolutely encourage user choice, and some other options offer features such as content filtering.

Every time you open your internet browser and go online, you automatically receive a DNS server by your Internet Service Provider. For most users, this should be fine.

However, in some cases, the DNS servers provided by your internet service provider may not include some specific features such as content filtering.

There’s no need to worry however as you can switch to a free, public DNS server that offers content filtering like: Introducing 1.1.1.1 for Families (cloudflare.com

How do I change my DNS Server?

You can change your DNS server either by switching the router, or by switching individual devices. Switching the router DNS will change the DNS on all the devices connected to that network but it can be tricky if you’re not familiar with changing the settings on your router.

For devices you use on other networks, like your laptop, smartphone or tablet, you need to change the DNS server on the device itself.

Unfortunately, there is no single step-by-step guide to changing these settings as every router model is different. And that’s the same for individual devices – it’s a different process on every version of Windows, Mac, IOS, Android and Chrome OS!

What are the best alternative DNS servers out there?

When looking for a fast & secure DNS server, check to see if they support some of the following features:

• Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) – these add digital signatures to DNS requests, so DNS servers can check that the data they receive is coming from where it claims to come from.
• DNS over HTTPS, DoH – this encrypts the DNS requests whilst in transit.

The security features of the DNS servers already mentioned in this blog include:

Cloudflare – if you’re looking for privacy, Cloudflare could be the way to go. It never records your IP address, deletes operational logs every day and offers optional content filtering and blocking. As mentioned previously Cloudflare now also offer “1.1.1.1 for families” – a DNS server that provides Malware and Adult content filtering.

Quad9 – offers a good array of security features including DNSSEC and DoH. It also has a list of malicious sites that it blocks as standard. In terms of privacy, it does gather and log a fair amount of data, although it’s not personally identifying info.

OpenDNS – supports both DoH and DNSSEC and comes with a range of other security features including malware, phishing protection and content filtering. The downside from a privacy perspective is that it logs your IP address and DNS searches.

Google Public DNS – comes with a good array of security features, supports DNS over HTTPS and DNSSEC, and offers good protection against some cyberattacks. Unfortunately, Google gathers a lot of data so it’s not ideal for those who value privacy.

Quickline – Broadband built for you

At Quickline, we’re all about delivering high-speed residential and business broadband to areas other providers leave behind. We offer fast, reliable and safe DNS servers for our customers by default, no need to mess with any settings or apps.

With Quickline, it doesn’t matter what you want from your internet connection. Whether you’re a home user looking to browse, download, work from home, stream or game, we have the broadband connection to ensure everything goes smoothly.

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