What is DNS over HTTPS?
See what encrypted DNS protects, where browser DNS settings fit, and why DoH does not replace a VPN.
Website: https://zenshield.com/glossary/dns-over-https
DNS over HTTPS
See what encrypted DNS protects, where browser DNS settings fit, and why DoH does not replace a VPN.
On this page
- What changes in practice
- Browser settings can differ from device settings
- Check the right result
- Sources
DNS over HTTPS, often called DoH, carries DNS queries inside HTTPS. It protects the transport of those queries between the client and the selected resolver.
What changes in practice
Ordinary DNS lookups can reveal requested domain names to observers along the path. DoH changes how the lookup reaches its resolver. The resolver still receives the question and must be trusted with it.
DoH encrypts DNS queries between your browser or device and its resolver. It does not change your public IP or make you anonymous to the websites you visit.
Browser settings can differ from device settings
A browser can select a DoH provider independently of the resolver configured on the device. This helps explain why a browser DNS test may show a different operator from an operating-system settings screen.
Firefox documents configurable DoH protection levels and provider choices. Read the description of the active level, including how it behaves when encrypted DNS is unavailable. An enabled-looking control is not a complete description of every fallback condition.
Check the right result
Use DNS leak testing to observe resolvers handling test lookups. Use DNS lookup to ask Google Public DNS for records for a domain. Those tools answer different questions.
If a workplace depends on internal DNS names, ask its administrator before changing the resolver. For a personal device, record the previous setting and change one layer at a time. That makes it possible to restore normal behavior if a website stops resolving.
Sources
Android Private DNS: choose a setting and test itVPN vs HTTPS: two different parts of the connection
On this page
- What changes in practice
- Browser settings can differ from device settings
- Check the right result
- Sources
Keep exploring
Android Private DNS: choose a setting and test itVPN vs HTTPS: two different parts of the connection
Keep exploring
What is DNS? ↗
DNS connects domain names with records such as the IP addresses used to reach a service.
What is a DNS cache? ↗
Understand stored DNS answers, TTLs and why a changed domain record may not appear immediately in every browser or network.
Why does my DNS test show an unexpected provider? ↗
Investigate an unfamiliar resolver without assuming a leak. Check browser DNS settings, compare results and prepare a useful support report.