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What Are DNS Leaks and How Do VPNs Prevent Them?

3 October 2023

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a critical part of the internet that turns domain names into numerical addresses.

Unfortunately, DNS can also be subject to online security and privacy risks. That's why it's crucial to understand what it is and learn how to prevent potential leaks. There are various reasons to hide your IP address, such as to prevent tracking, protect privacy, and even evade digital marketing.

Fret not; this post covers what DNS leaks are and why they happen. Read below to learn how virtual private networks (VPNs) can help prevent such leaks.

What is a DNS?

The Dynamic Name System (DNS) essentially translates domain names or website addresses to numerical figures or computer languages. It helps online users access websites via different devices and allows them to communicate with each other.

Internet service providers (ISPs) use their DNS servers to create internet protocol (IP) addresses. For example, DNS translates www.amazon.com to 192.0.2.44. This IP address enables user interactions from one site to Amazon (or vice versa) across different devices.

What Is a DNS Leak?

As the name suggests, a DNS leak occurs when you 'leak' your DNS requests to third-party servers instead of that of your internet service provider. This is due to network or system misconfiguration, errors, and vulnerabilities.

Specifically, DNS leaks happen when:

DNS leaks can put your online privacy and security at risk. They are dangerous because:

As such, it’s best to set up a VPN and implement best practices to avoid DNS leaks and guarantee online privacy and security.

Learn how VPNs can help prevent DNS leaks in the next section.

How VPNs Help Prevent DNS Leaks

VPN stands for virtual private network, a service that protects your internet connection and ensures privacy and security. It works by concealing your IP address, encrypting your data, and protecting your online identity.

VPN can prevent DNS leaks by routing your DNS requests through the encrypted VPN tunnel. To expound on this further, here's how your VPN setup can help avoid leaks:

Mark Pierce, CEO of Cloud Peak Law Group, suggests using a VPN, particularly with DNS leak protection. “It works by routing your DNS requests to encrypted services to ensure online privacy and security. The key here is to hire a reputable VPN service provider. A reliable one can conceal your IP address and protect your online activities from cyberattacks.”

Learn other privacy and security measures to prevent DNS leaks below.

Top 10 Extra Measures for Preventing DNS Leaks:

Setting up a VPN is one thing; establishing cybersecurity awareness and measures is another. To further prevent DNS leaks, below are some online privacy and security recommendations for you:

Final Words

DNS leaks do happen, posing threats and risks to your online privacy and security. That's why you should consider setting up VPNs for proper configuration, reliable encryption, and ensured protection.

But first, implement those cybersecurity measures recommended above to prevent DNS leaks. More importantly, hire VPN services from trusted and reliable providers for guaranteed online protection.

Are you looking to work with a VPN service provider to prevent DNS leaks? Trust Zone offers highly reliable VPN setup services to hide your online activities on the internet. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!

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