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If the user's Internet service providers struggle to maintain fast and stable DNS servers, users may experience periods of 'dead' time when websites fail to load or load very slowly due to DNS requests taking time to resolve. If the user's Internet service provider does not handle these tasks well, users can opt for third-party DNS servers that provide a more reliable experience.
3. Control Over Minors
For users with minors and a desire to set up web filtering features, there are various ways to accomplish this. One of the easiest ways to configure web filtering is to change the user's DNS server to OpenDNS. By changing the DNS server on the user's router, they can configure parental control settings on the OpenDNS website, allowing users to block certain types of websites and monitor website access from the user's home network.
This is particularly convenient because after changing the settings on the user's router and setting up parental controls on the OpenDNS website, the settings will apply to all devices on the user's home network, including computers running different operating systems, gaming consoles, smartphones, tablets, and more. When a DNS request is made for an IP address of a website, OpenDNS will return a different IP address. The user's browser will connect to that address and see a message stating that the desired websites have been blocked.
4. Fraud Prevention
OpenDNS employs filters to block fraudulent websites. While modern browsers come with built-in anti-phishing tools, using OpenDNS can provide additional protection to all computers in a network, including those running Windows XP with Internet Explorer 6. This enhances defense against identity theft. Other DNS services lack such features. For instance, Google Public DNS does not include content filtering features; it operates solely as a fast DNS service without additional support.
5. High-Level Security Features
Third-party DNS servers like OpenDNS and Google Public DNS also offer security features not provided by DNS servers from internet service providers. For example, Google Public DNS supports DNSSEC to ensure DNS requests are securely and accurately signed. DNS servers from internet service providers may not implement such security features.
If SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) is enacted, no U.S. DNS servers will support DNSSEC, as per SOPA regulations deeming DNSSEC standards illegal. This implies that users in the U.S. would need to use foreign DNS servers to benefit from DNSSEC.
6. Accessing Regionally Blocked Content
Third-party DNS servers, in particular, may enable users to access regionally blocked content. For instance, switching to Tunlr DNS allows users to freely view media content like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer regardless of their location worldwide. When a user's computer connects to a third-party DNS, the DNS service undergoes certain steps to make the service provider think the user is in a different location globally. This is a convenient option, allowing users to access these services on any device by simply changing the DNS server on their router.
7. When Websites Are Blocked at the IP Level
An Internet service provider can block websites by redirecting them to another page. If websites are blocked in this manner, changing the user's DNS server to a third-party DNS service will help users comfortably access the desired websites. It's important to note that changing DNS may be ineffective for websites blocked at the IP level.
So, these are all the reasons users need to know to understand why we need to change DNS Servers. Hope the article is informative and provides readers with the most justified explanations. Wishing you all a great day.
