There are many ways bad guys can attack and install unwanted programs on your computers. If you truly want to protect your PCs online, you must close these many avenues that someone can use to install malicious programs on your machines.
Whenever you purchase a new computer, your first task should always be installing firewall, antivirus and anti-spyware programs to protect your machines.
Some of the benefits of installing these programs:
- Bad guys can’t easily install viruses, spyware or other malicious tools
- Your privacy will be protected
- Your important information will be secured and unauthorized users can’t get them
- Your computer will run and perform better
- The Internet will be fun
- and many others benefits
You see, the above list is a good reason to put in place steps to protect your computers at home.
Even if you installed the best firewall, antivirus and spyware programs, there are other things you can do to increase your computer security even more.
This brief tutorial is going to show you how to use secure DNS systems to add another layer of security to your computers.
List of free and secure DNS providers
The Domain Name System (DNS) helps translate people-friendly names like facebook.com into IP addresses that computers can recognize. DNS plays a huge role when you’re using the Internet.
DNS is also vulnerable to attack and can be slow. If you want to improve your Internet experience, you may want to switch to alternative DNS providers that offer secure, fast and distributed DNS services.
Here’s a list of few of the providers that offered better DNS services than the ones issues to you from your ISP vendors.
| Provider | Primary DNS IP | Secondary DNS IP |
| 8.8.8.8 | 8.8.4.4 | |
| OpenDNS | 208.67.222.222 | 208.67.220.220 |
| Comodo DNS | 8.26.56.26 | 8.20.247.20 |
| Norton DNS | 199.85.126.30 | 199.85.127.30 |
That’s just a few. Do a search online for secure DNS providers and you may end of with more.
How to switch DNS providers in Ubuntu
To switch to one of the above providers for better security, open the terminal (Ctrl – Alt – T) and run the commands below.
sudo gedit /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf
Then add the line below into the file and save it.
supersede domain-name-servers 208.67.222.222,208.67.220.220;
That’s it.
How to switch DNS providers in Windows
To do the same in Windows, go to your network adapters center and right-click on your primary adapter and select Properties
Then select TCP/IPv4 and click Properties. Next, select the option to use the following DNS server addresses. Enter the primary and secondary IP addresses.
Save it and you’re done.
This is how to switch to alternative DNS providers in Ubuntu and Windows computers.
Enjoy! And stay safe on the Internet
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I protect my computer from bad guys?
To protect your computer from malicious programs, ensure you have firewall, antivirus, and anti-spyware programs installed. These tools help prevent viruses, spyware, and unauthorized access to your important information.
What are the benefits of installing firewall, antivirus, and anti-spyware programs?
By installing these programs, you prevent bad guys from easily installing harmful tools, protect your privacy, secure your important information, improve your computer's performance, and ensure a safer online experience.
How can I enhance computer security further even with the best security programs installed?
One way to enhance computer security is by using secure DNS systems. By switching to alternative DNS providers like Google, OpenDNS, Comodo DNS, or Norton DNS, you can add an extra layer of security to your Internet browsing.
What is the role of Domain Name System (DNS) in computer security?
DNS translates user-friendly domain names into IP addresses that computers can understand. It plays a crucial role in Internet usage but can also be vulnerable to attacks, making it important to choose secure DNS providers for enhanced security.
How does using secure DNS providers improve Internet experience?
Secure DNS providers offer faster, more secure, and distributed DNS services compared to those provided by ISP vendors. By switching to providers like Google, OpenDNS, Comodo DNS, or Norton DNS, you can enhance your overall Internet experience.
What are some free and secure DNS providers?
Some of the free and secure DNS providers include Google (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4), OpenDNS (208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220), Comodo DNS (8.26.56.26, 8.20.247.20), and Norton DNS (199.85.126.30, 199.85.127.30). These providers offer better DNS services for improved security.
Why is it important to secure DNS systems for computer protection?
Securing DNS systems is crucial for protecting your computer from potential attacks and ensuring a safer online experience. By using secure DNS providers, you add an additional layer of security to your browsing activities.
How do secure DNS systems add an extra layer of security to computers?
Secure DNS systems help prevent DNS-related attacks and provide faster, more reliable DNS services. By using trusted providers like Google, OpenDNS, Comodo DNS, or Norton DNS, you can enhance your computer's security and protect against online threats.
