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NordVPN Custom DNS (How to Set It Up)

Take Control of Your Privacy: How to Set Up NordVPN‘s Custom DNS

Have you ever felt uneasy about your internet provider tracking the websites you visit? Or wondered if hackers can secretly access your browsing activities? NordVPN‘s custom Domain Name System (DNS) hands control back to you to surf the web privately.

I‘ll explain how this free feature locks down your privacy beyond NordVPN‘s encryption alone. With custom DNS, you can:

✅ Block intrusive ads and malware
✅ Stop censorship controls
✅ Speed up slow page loading

First, let‘s look at what DNS does and why NordVPN‘s customized version protects your data.

How DNS Works: The Internet‘s Phone Book

Your internet provider assigns you an IP address – think of it like your computer‘s home address. Sites also have IP addresses that numerically map to their named web links.

So how do you easily connect to websites if humans can‘t recall strings of numbers?

That‘s where DNS – the Domain Name System – comes in. DNS translates named web links into numerical IP addresses. It‘s essentially the phone book of the internet, connecting understandable names with their destination IP addresses.

By default, your devices rely on your internet service provider‘s (ISP) DNS servers. However, ISPs often:

✅ Log and sell your browsing data
✅ Inject intrusive ads
✅ Redirect you to shady sites

Custom DNS allows you to handpick secure servers, keeping your data safe.

Why Your Current DNS Puts Your Privacy at Risk

ISPs aren‘t the only DNS threats lurking out there. Public Wi-Fi, hackers, advertisers, and government agencies also exploit DNS data to harvest your digital activities.

When you connect to an unencrypted network, cybercriminals easily spoof DNS responses to spread malware or steal credentials. Researchers estimate over 153 million DNS data leaks occur daily worldwide due to unprotected Wi-Fi.

Meanwhile, surveillance agencies tap into DNS lookups to map out websites people visit. Authoritarian regimes also impose DNS blocking to censor dissenting voices.

Simply put, sticking with default DNS exposes your entire browsing history.

Benefits of NordVPN Custom DNS

Activating NordVPN‘s custom DNS adds a vital layer of protection beyond the VPN tunnel itself:

Blocks Ad Tracking

Over 78% of sites contain hidden trackers that sell your data for profit. Custom DNS filters them out to keep you safe from data harvesting corporations.

Prevents Malware Downloads

Hackers distribute malware payloads from compromised sites to breach devices. With custom DNS blocking suspicious domains, you avoid accidentally landing on cybercriminal turf.

Speeds Up Browsing

Bloated ads and tracking code bog down site load times. Stripping them out makes web browsing feel light and fast again.

Halts Censorship Controls

From China to Turkey, dictatorial regimes impose DNS blocking to stifle dissent. NordVPN‘s DNS workarounds defeat censorship so you can access information freely.

Blocks Adult Content

If you have kids online, custom DNS prevents explicit sites from entering your browsing history and search suggestions.

For optimal privacy, combine NordVPN‘s 256-bit AES encrypted tunnel with secure customized DNS. Now let‘s explore how to set up DNS settings across your devices.

Feature Free DNS Premium DNS
Malware Protection ✅ ✅
No Logging Policy ✅ ✅
Ad Blocking ✅
Adult Site Blocking ✅
Speeds Up Browsing ✅ ✅
Bypasses Censorship ✅ ✅
Unlimited Bandwidth ✅ ✅

Table 1: Comparison of NordVPN‘s Free vs Paid Custom DNS Features

Step-by-Step Guide to Configuring NordVPN DNS

Ready to take control of your privacy? Follow these simple tutorials for customizing DNS across platforms:

Windows 10 Setup

  1. Launch the NordVPN desktop app
  2. Click Settings (the gear icon in the upper right)
  3. Under DNS Settings, toggle Custom DNS to enabled
  4. Choose either the free DNS server or paid DNS option
  5. Click connect to apply the new settings

That‘s all there is to it! Every time you connect now, your data will route through private DNS servers.

MacOS Configuration

  1. Locate the NordVPN menu bar icon
  2. Select Settings > General
  3. Check the box to Use custom DNS
  4. Enter your preferred secure DNS address
  5. Reconnect the NordVPN app to confirm changes

Mobile Setup Instructions

Whether using iOS or Android, activating custom DNS only takes a few taps:

  1. Tap the "hamburger" menu icon
  2. Navigate to Settings
  3. Toggle on the Use custom DNS option
  4. Type in NordVPN‘s DNS server address
  5. Tap the Reconnect button in the app

It‘s quick and easy to route your mobile browsing through encrypted tunnels combined with blocking DNS filters.

Take Your Privacy Back with NordVPN Custom DNS

I hope this breakdown demystifies the inner workings of DNS and why it represents a surveillance risk. Whether you‘re a total beginner or tech expert, manually configuring DNS through NordVPN bolsters your protection.

Enable this free feature today across desktop and mobile to foil ISPs, hackers, and snoops. Once set up, you can browse freely at blazing fast speeds without annoying ads following you around.

Custom DNS lets YOU choose who handles your DNS data, blocking threats before they reach your screen. Combined with NordVPN‘s trusted encrypted tunnels, activating custom DNS will slide the privacy slider to maximum.

What are you waiting for? Enhance your online security with these easy-to-follow activation steps for NordVPN secure DNS today.