Test DNS Leak: Is Your VPN Service Exposing You on the Internet?
DNS Leak Tests Help You Know and Act to Protect Your Anonymity Online
So you’re using a VPN service and are completely certain that it fully protects your online privacy. Would you bet your life on that?
Have you heard of something called DNS leak? This means that your ISP or any other device that’s eavesdropping on your traffic can actually see the Internet requests made, as the browser or the apps on your smartphone send the DNS queries directly to the ISP and not through the VPN tunnel.
Read below to see how you can find out if your VPN service protects you for DNS leaks and what to do if it doesn’t!
DNS Leak: 4 Steps to Test and Find Out if You’re Exposed by Your VPN Service
As shown above, your online activity gets exposed if your ISP or anybody in the middle can get your Internet requests.
VPNs are the best solution to protect your online privacy, as they create a tunnel between your computer and the Internet. But, unfortunately, not all VPN services make your online activity fully anonymous. Here’s how to find out if you’re exposed or not – we’ll be using the DNS leak test service provided by DNSLeakTest.com and Speedify as the VPN service:
- First, with the VPN service disabled – find out your public IP address. You’ll see that your approximate location can be identified based on that only.
- Next, run the Standard DNS leak test and see the DNS servers your browser is quering.
- Next, start the VPN service and connect to a VPN server in a different country, preferably on a different continent. Reload the testing page – it should display a different IP address. This is good – it means the VPN works in protecting your privacy with the websites or services you’re accessing.
However, there’s one more step to go to confirm full online privacy – seeing if you’re also anonymous when DNS requests are made. Go to step 4.
In the example above, we chose a VPN server located in the Netherlands, but you can choose the one that you like from your VPN service.
- Run the Standard test for DNS leaks again with your VPN on. This will generate a list of DNS servers that the browser queries.
Are the DNS IPs and Hostnames different than the ones identified in step 2, when running the test without the VPN on? If so – you’re all set – your VPN protects you against DNS leaks!
Do any of the DNS results show up in your home country (assuming you selected a server in a different country)? If so, it’s time to change the VPN service you’re using!
What to Do If VPN Has DNS Leaks? Switch to Speedify – Fast, Secure and Reliable VPN
Speedify is a fast bonding VPN built from the ground up for all 3 coordinates you need from a VPN: complete security, fast encryption and total reliability.
Speedify’s security algorithm will protect your online privacy whether you’re shopping online, working remotely, connected from a public WiFi hotspot or just browsing at home.
With its unique ability to combine multiple connections at once into one super fast and reliable pipe, Speedify will get all your devices the best and most secure Internet experience.
Don’t want to risk it all because your VPN has DNS leaks? It’s time for a change – get started with Speedify today – it’s free!
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