A public recursive name server (also called public DNS resolver) is a name server service that networked computers may use to query the Domain Name System (DNS), the decentralized Internet naming system, in place of (or in addition to) name servers operated by the local Internet service provider (ISP) to which the devices are connected. Reasons for using these services include: * speed, compared to using ISP DNS services * filtering (security,

ad-blocking Ad blocking or ad filtering is a software capability for blocking or altering online advertising in a web browser, an application or a network. This may be done using browser extensions or other methods. Technologies and native countermeasur ...

, porn-blocking, etc.) * reporting * avoiding censorship * redundancy (smart caching) * access to unofficial alternative top level domains not found in the official DNS root zone *temporary unavailability of the ISP's name server Public DNS resolver operators often cite increased privacy as an advantage of their services; critics of public DNS services have cited the possibility of mass data collection targeted at the public resolvers as a potential risk of using these services. Several services now support secure DNS lookup transport services such as

DNS over HTTPS DNS over HTTPS (DoH) is a protocol for performing remote Domain Name System (DNS) resolution via the HTTPS protocol. A goal of the method is to increase user privacy and security by preventing eavesdropping and manipulation of DNS data by man- ...

(DoH) and

DNS over TLS DNS over TLS (DoT) is a network security protocol for encrypting and wrapping Domain Name System (DNS) queries and answers via the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol. The goal of the method is to increase user privacy and security by preve ...

(DoT). Public DNS resolvers are operated either by commercial companies, offering their service for free use to the public, or by private enthusiasts to help spread new technologies and support non-profit communities.

Notable public DNS service operators

References

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External links

Home page of the DNSCrypt project: Public DNS servers
Domain Name System Alternative Internet DNS services Distributed data structures