Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS Resolver Vows to Resolve Speed, Privacy Concerns

DNS resolvers take a name like Google.com and “translate” it into true IP addresses. Admittedly, Google.com is much easier to remember than 172.217.10.46! When you connect to the Internet—whether from home, at school or a WiFi hot spot—whoever operates that network will determine which DNS resolver to use. This can pose a number of problems.

Find out why and what you can do about it—with a little help from Cloudflare’s new 1.1.1.1 tool.

Oh, and if you’re not sure just what exactly DNS means, we have a blog post for that, too.

DNS’s privacy and censorship problem

Unfortunately, DNS resolvers can sometimes be slow, unreliable and less than secure. Your ISP, every WiFi network you’ve ever connected to, and your mobile network provider all have records of your online activity—even if content is encrypted. Because there is potential to monetize this data, some network operators may try to sell it or use it to target you with ads.

Cloudflare promises greater privacy

Now, with Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1, tool, what the company calls “the Internet’s fastest, privacy-first DNS service,” you can connect to a custom DNS. Better still, the record of the sites you’re browsing is not kept by your ISP. Cloudflare says that it will not store any addresses to disk and will delete logs within 24 hours. The firm also vows not to sell user data or use it to serve targeted advertising: it has retained KPMG to conduct annual systems audits.

Cloudflare also promises greater speeed

When you surf the Internet, it takes time—68.23ms on average—to respond to a DNS request and serve up a website. This may not seem like a big deal—unless you’re among Internet users who typically have a gazillion tabs open at once. (It’s okay. You can tell us.)

Every effective multitasker can manage funny cat videos, celebrity gossip, the latest news headlines, a stock ticker, and real-time sports scores all at the same time. If this sounds even remotely like you, you appreciate sites that load quickly. Any time shaved off, even if mere milliseconds, adds up!

Cloudflare’s DNS service, with its 14ms query speed, is lightning fast—28 per cent faster than the 68.23ms average, in fact. Independent DNS monitor DNSPerf ranks 1.1.1.1 the world’s fastest DNS service.

Ready to get started? Setting up 1.1.1.1 requires little technical skill and no special software. If you’re interested in installing it on your device or computer, visit the 1.1.1.1 website for easy, step-by-step instructions.

And remember, if you need a helping hand, Digital Link is just a phone call or email message away.