OpenDNS vs Google DNS – How to Switch to OpenDNS or Google DNS?

What are OpenDNS & Google DNS?

1. OpenDNS:
OpenDNS is a cloud-based domain name system (DNS) service that provides enhanced security, faster browsing speeds, and internet content filtering. It is owned by Cisco and offers both free and paid plans. OpenDNS works by resolving DNS requests faster and allowing users to block unwanted websites (e.g., malicious sites or adult content).

2. Google DNS:
Google Public DNS is a free, global DNS resolution service launched by Google to make the web faster and improve security. Google DNS is one of the largest DNS services in terms of volume and is known for its speed and reliability. It doesn’t provide content filtering like OpenDNS but focuses on enhancing DNS resolution speed and security.

Why Are OpenDNS & Google DNS Used?

1. Faster Browsing:
   DNS services translate human-readable domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses that computers understand. Public DNS services like OpenDNS and Google DNS provide faster responses compared to default DNS servers provided by ISPs.
2. Increased Security:
   Both services offer enhanced security features:
   • OpenDNS: Protects against phishing, malware, and botnets through built-in filtering.
   • Google DNS: Focuses on providing better security by preventing DNS attacks and improving the safety of the DNS lookup process.
3. Improved Reliability:
   They provide a more stable and reliable DNS service, avoiding outages that can occur with some local ISPs.
4. Content Filtering (OpenDNS):
   OpenDNS allows users to block access to certain categories of websites (e.g., adult content, gambling), which is particularly useful for parental control or in businesses.

Benefits of Using OpenDNS & Google DNS

OpenDNS Benefits:

• Content Filtering: Ability to block specific domains or types of content.
• Phishing Protection: Proactively blocks malicious sites.
• Usage Statistics: Detailed reports on DNS requests and browsing habits.
• Customizable: Advanced features for business users.

Google DNS Benefits:

• Speed: Optimized for fast performance by distributing DNS lookup requests efficiently across servers.
• Global Coverage: Has servers located worldwide, which ensures faster response times.
• Security: Uses techniques like DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and DNS over TLS (DoT) for improved privacy and security.

How to Switch to OpenDNS or Google DNS?

Note: The techniques in this article & video works in Windows 7, 8, and 10.

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Right-click the network status icon in your system tray, and then click “Open the Network and Sharing Center” on the context menu.

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In the “Network and Sharing Center” window, click the “Change adapter settings” link at the upper left.

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In the “Network Connections” window, right-click the connection for which you want to change the DNS settings, and then click “Properties” on the context menu.

In the properties window, select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4)” on the list, and then click the “Properties” button.

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The bottom half of the “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4) Properties” window shows the DNS settings. Select the “Use the following DNS server addresses” option. Next, type in the IP addresses for the preferred and alternate DNS servers you want to use. Here are the IP addresses for Google DNS and Open DNS:

Google DNS

Preferred: 8.8.8.8
Alternate: 8.8.4.4

OpenDNS

Preferred: 208.67.222.222
Alternate: 208.67.220.220

We’re using Google DNS in our example, but feel free to use whichever you like. When you’ve typed in the addresses, click the “OK” button.

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Best Competitors to OpenDNS & Google DNS

1. Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1):
   Known for speed and privacy, Cloudflare DNS is one of the fastest public DNS services. It emphasizes user privacy by not logging IP addresses.
   • Primary DNS server: 1.1.1.1
   • Secondary DNS server: 1.0.0.1
2. Quad9 DNS (9.9.9.9):
   A security-focused DNS provider, Quad9 blocks access to malicious websites using threat intelligence from multiple sources.
   • Primary DNS server: 9.9.9.9
   • Secondary DNS server: 149.112.112.112
3. Comodo Secure DNS:
   Offers fast, reliable, and secure DNS services with built-in protection against malware and phishing websites.
   • Primary DNS server: 8.26.56.26
   • Secondary DNS server: 8.20.247.20
4. Norton ConnectSafe:
   Provides DNS services focused on security and content filtering, preventing users from accessing malicious websites.
   • Note: Norton ConnectSafe was discontinued, but alternatives exist in the market for similar functionalities.

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