Okay, so my main purpose with this blog is to translate “tech lingo” into something more… understandable and enjoyable for you. A blog where you can stay up to date with the latest in tech, while also having fun and actually understanding stuff.

That being said, this one might be a bit tricky. But bear with me, it’s worth it.

What is “DNS”?

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It basically translates domain names (www.iflsmartgadgets.com) into IP addresses (146.66.67.40) that your computer understands.

Since we can’t remember IP addresses of every website we want to access, we tend to remember our “.coms” instead.

IP addresses are how computers and other devices communicate with and identify each other. The DNS simply connects the domain and the IP address together. Think of it as the Internet’s yellow directory.

On that note, I happened to find this comic-strip-kind-of explanation on what DNS is and how it works. It’s quite short and very entertaining, so feel free to check it out!

ISPs and DNS

When the whole net neutrality thing happened, I spoke briefly about what ISPs (Internet Service Provider) are and how they have, are, and will always keep track of your every move online.

Every website you visit, every download you carry out, your ISP has all of that data stored . . . (and you’re giving Facebook **** for it).

Many of you probably have your ISP’s DNS server programmed on your devices (though some might have Google’s, or any other providers).

In simpler terms and with what I have already told you about how DNS works:

Each time you enter a new website on your browser (iflsmartgadgets.com), your device will send a request to your ISP’s server.

“Hey ISP’s DNS, my user wants to go to iflsmartgadgets.com, what’s the IP address so I can access that? “

That being said, if you’re a frequent IFLSG reader, your device doesn’t need to keep accessing this online directory since it already has the IP address of iflsmartgadgets.com stored in its cache (basically, your online memory card).

Cloudflare – 1.1.1.1

Now for the juicy part of this blog post.

Cloudflare is a global network that speeds up and protects websites, API’s, online services, and basically everything related to the internet.

They improve website performance, they up security by a lot, and it is a service used by millions (so you can say they’re trust worthy).

Cloudflare has launched a new DNS server titled 1.1.1.1 and this is why you’re going to want it for yourself.

Cloudflare mentions that your current DNS is not only slow and unsafe, but it’s also victim to your ISP’s eyes. Your ISP sells some of your data so that companies can target you with ads, and that’s no bueno.

Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 promises privacy over anything. And to prove it, they have retained KPMG’s services annually to ensure that.

1.1.1.1 claims to be the fastest Internet directory in the world, and in the picture above, have even compared it to other common DNS services.

SO BASICALLY WHAT I’M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT

With the increase in invasion of privacy, the cyber security scandals, the Facebook and MyFitnessPal breaches and whatnot, it’s good to know that there’s a DNS server out there that we can use (FREE OF CHARGE) that promises speed and safety.

If you switch to 1.1.1.1, your ISP no longer has control over your online data and I don’t see how you aren’t convinced already.

There are a specific steps you could take to make this easy transition on your devices (iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, or even on your Router), and I encourage you to do.

Just visit 1.1.1.1 and scroll down to see what you have to do for your device!

I have tried this out for a couple days now and I have to say that my Internet is definitely faster. Some might say it’s a placebo effect but there are several codes you could run on your Terminal apps or speed test apps for proof.

Fun Fact: It’s actually called 1.1.1.1 because it was meant to release on April 1, or 4/1, or 1.1.1.1 (many actually thought this was a joke and it wasn’t possible that they were witnessing the creation of the fastest DNS server in history

** Update: It’s possible that you might not be able to access a couple of websites after doing this due to something called DNS propagation. Generally after 24 hours this is solved, but for websites that still show an error, Cloudflare is working on it!

Do remember your old DNS server number (or take a screenshot) just in case you ever want to revert back!