DNSCrypt is a protocol and a program that acts as a shield between your computer and the Internet. It is not something you encounter on the screen quite frequently and you do not operate it in the same way you use an application. But it is present in the background and is actively encrypting your DNS traffic.
That means, for instance, when you are to navigate through a specified address such as example.com, your device will have to request DNS to know the location of the site. Normally, that request isn’t protected. Many people said that it was transmitted in the clear, meaning anyone connected to the same network or anyone who would monitor the internet traffic can see it. That’s where DNSCrypt steps in. This one encrypts the DNS request so that people cannot follow where you are going in cyberspace.
This is perhaps particularly beneficial when one is using public WiFi or even a home network where privacy is of significant concern. DNSCrypt works as a shield intermediary, ensuring that your queries to DNS servers cannot be tampered with. It also refuses malicious DNS spoofing and man-in-the-middle attacks. This means that not only does it shield your identity, but it also prevents you from getting to the wrong site, which may be a con. It does not alter how one surfs the internet or the site they need to access. It just ensures that how to find them is safe and reliable.
Why Should I Download DNSCrypt?
Everyone is concerned about internet security with antivirus software, or they might consider using a VPN, which is good, but DNS protection is another level that they tend to overlook. Every time you connect to the internet from your device, you might be making between twenty to several hundred DNS queries a day. Anytime you start an application, load a website, or follow a hyperlink, there is always a DNS query involved. Without encryption, all that is open for your ISP, your network administrator, or anyone who might be spying is to see. While they might not be aware of the activities a specific site provides, they will know of the site in general. DNSCrypt is one of the simplest methods by which this privacy gap can be closed.
However, one can also use DNSCrypt because of its compatibility; the method integrates well with existing systems. It doesn’t force you to bin your current browser, or to use your computer in a completely new and different way. It functions like a shadow, serving DNS requests and resolving them without much fuss or delay. It is easy to forget that it is even running; this has the potential to work for you when you plan to use it as spyware, tracking all the activities of a computer. It shields you from dangers but does not pose a threat to your freedom in any way. Privacy is a major issue that is enhanced compared to such services, but you don’t need more clicks or slower connections.
For anyone who wants that added layer of privacy on the internet, or someone looking to minimize potential points of entry for malicious actors, DNSCrypt is worth going through the trouble for. Although it does not solve all the security issues, it does solve one very effectively. This makes the control over your DNS very simple, free, and efficient.
Is DNSCrypt Free?
Yes, DNSCrypt is completely free. All customers have an exposure to the advice without the need to obtain any license or subscription. It is an open-source program that is supported and updated by users and contributors. It can be obtained for free, utilized in various ways, and customized in terms of upgrades if one has the necessary expertise. It is arguably one of the few tools that can protect you without requiring much of you in return.
What Operating Systems Are Compatible with DNSCrypt?
Several major operating systems are supported by DNSCrypt. It’s effective on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with modified versions for the Android platform using applications that support it. DNSCrypt is not a program with a graphical interface, and on most systems, it is a service or a background service.
For Windows, there is DNSCrypt Proxy or Simple DNSCrypt, which makes the DNSCrypt setup a little easier. On Linux and macOS, it is mostly used either from the terminal or through configuration files. It should be noted that there is no official iOS version, but there may be some DNS applications that support encrypted DNS in general. After that, DNSCrypt works behind the scenes to safeguard your device's DNS queries regardless of the browser or the application that you are using.
What Are the Alternatives to DNSCrypt?
Even if DNSCrypt is a fine solution because it allows you to protect your DNS traffic and have an influence over how your queries are processed, it is not the only option available. There are other programs that have the same objective but come with a different approach.
DNS Jumper is a practical tool designed for Windows that can easily change a DNS in a few clicks without the user’s research in system settings. It doesn’t encrypt DNS, similar to DNSCrypt, but leaves you with an option to easily switch and test DNS servers. This is the reason you select a faster, more reliable, or more private DNS server with only a couple of clicks. It is useful if you want to play around or tweak something to get more frame rate, etc, but not about security at all, the simplest form of it.
Smart DNS Proxy is a paid service and works in a different way from the rest of the Internet providers. It doesn’t encrypt the DNS requests to enhance user privacy like other VPNs do, but forwards them to unblock content behind a restriction in a given region. This is mostly for platforms that limit your access to some content by your geolocation. Although it lacks privacy, it can effectively control DNS and, hence, the content that is available on the internet. It will not prevent someone from viewing your DNS traffic, but it goes a long way in beating geographical restrictions. This one is more about practicality than security, so it is different from DNSCrypt but could be discussed in the same context.
There is yet another option called Namebench, albeit the tool is not a permanent fix. Again, developed by Google, it assists users in getting the best DNS servers available near their area. This one is run with real queries once and tests several DNS services. Then it instructs you which of them is faster. Although it does not encrypt or even alter DNS traffic, it does assist in optimizing it. It’s one tool you might use before changing DNS to a new service, and you might use it concurrently with services like DNSCrypt, which brings both the privacy and speed benefits to a DNS server.
