Advantages
Disadvantages
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after
- Increased Speed: Third-party resolvers often feature massive global server networks that resolve website requests much faster than slower ISP defaults.
- Content Filtering and Security: Options like OpenDNS and Quad9 automatically block phishing sites, malware, and provide parental controls to filter out adult or unwanted content.
- Bypass Geo-Blocks: Changing your DNS to Smart DNS can bypass basic geographical restrictions for streaming sites without the performance lag of encryption.
- Enhanced Privacy: Premium third-party DNS services have stricter privacy policies than ISPs, refusing to log or sell your browsing history.
- High Reliability: Public DNS servers have better redundancy and uptime, meaning fewer service interruptions. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Disadvantages
- Zero Traffic Encryption: DNS changers only translate domain names; they do not hide your IP address or encrypt your overall data, leaving you visible to hackers on public Wi-Fi.
- ISP Tracking Still Possible: While third-party DNS keeps your history away from your ISP, your ISP can still see which websites you visit because the web traffic data itself is unencrypted.
- Potential for Slower Local Speeds: If your selected DNS server is geographically far from your physical location, it can result in higher latency instead of a speed boost.
- Configuration & Maintenance: You must change these settings manually on your device or router, and third-party setups won't help you bypass strict national firewalls (like the Great Firewall).
- Data Centralization: By routing all your requests through a single third-party company, you are placing all your trust in their privacy and data handling practices. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
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after