In my earlier post about DNS servers I briefly described how I changed the domain name server on my PC to more quickly be able to access new websites of clients. The DNS servers that my ISP had provided me with took several days for the new website URLs to be available.
However, the main advantage of using this different DNS was that it had a dynamic blacklist of sites to be ‘avoided’ and would not resolve IP addresses on this list. We all receive emails with embedded URLs or click on tweets with shortened URLs and have no clear idea of ‘where’ on the Internet we might be taken. Changing your DNS server provides a first level of protection from such sites as demonstrated by my earlier post.
What are your DNS server options?
I know of two – OpenDNS and Google Public DNS.
Rather than put their DNS server IP addresses here please go their websites directly. Note OpenDNS is now a Cisco company and offers extra services but on the website is their DNS server IP address.
OpenDNS. The IP address was on this page when I wrote this blog.
The Google Public DNS IP address is here on Wikipedia.
Changing your DNS server in Windows 10
On your screen look at the bottom right hand corner …
… and right click on the network symbol. On my PC this is a LAN. Select the ‘Open Network and Sharing Centre’ option.
Then select ‘Change adapter settings’ …
… and then you are offered the network connections currently available.
… I’ve selected the LAN connection. Now select Properties …
On my PC I only have IP Version 4, select this and then click Properties …
Finally we are we we want to be!
Now enter your chosen DNS server’s IP address.
If you are using OpenDNS the link above has an option for you to check if you have successfully changed your DNS server.