DNS Leak Test

10 Questions and Answers about DNS Leak Test

This guide will help you understand the risks of a DNS leak and how to use DNS Leak Test to protect your online anonymity through 10 core questions.

1. What is DNS Leak Test?

DNS Leak Test is a free online tool designed to help users detect if their device has a DNS leak. This tool is especially important when you use a VPN or other proxy services, as it verifies whether your DNS requests are also passing through the encrypted tunnel instead of being sent directly to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

2. What is a DNS leak?

DNS (Domain Name System) is responsible for translating website names you enter (like example.com) into server IP addresses. Normally, if you’re using a VPN, your DNS requests should also be resolved anonymously through the VPN’s servers. A DNS leak occurs when these requests bypass the VPN and are sent directly to your ISP.

3. Why is a DNS leak dangerous?

A DNS leak exposes your real browsing activity. Even if your IP address is hidden by a VPN, your ISP can still see every website you visit. This not only compromises your anonymity but also allows your ISP, advertisers, or even hackers to log your online habits.

4. How do I use DNS Leak Test?

Using the tool is very simple. After visiting the site, you have two test options:

Standard Test: Click the “Standard Test” button for a quick check. It will show you which servers are handling your DNS requests.
Extended Test: Click the “Extended Test” button for a more comprehensive test. It runs multiple queries to uncover all potential leaking DNS servers.

5. What’s the difference between the Standard and Extended tests?

The Standard Test is fast and suitable for a quick check. It shows you where your DNS requests are being sent.
The Extended Test is more thorough. It performs six queries, designed to find DNS servers that improperly configured routers or systems might leak intermittently. For the most accurate results, the extended test is recommended.

6. How do I interpret the test results?

After the test, the site will list the IP addresses, hostnames, and owning ISPs of the servers handling your DNS requests. If you are using a VPN, you should ideally only see servers belonging to your VPN provider. If you see your local ISP’s servers, it means you have a DNS leak.

7. I’m using a VPN, so why do I still have a DNS leak?

This can happen for several reasons, including:

Your operating system’s default settings may prioritize using your local ISP’s DNS servers.
Your VPN client does not have built-in DNS leak protection, or the feature is turned off.
Your router is improperly configured to force all devices to use specific DNS servers.

8. How can I fix a DNS leak?

There are several ways to fix a DNS leak:

In your VPN client’s settings, ensure that the “DNS Leak Protection” feature is enabled.
Manually change your device’s DNS servers to a public DNS (like Google DNS 8.8.8.8) or one recommended by your VPN provider.
Use a reputable VPN service that comes with strong, built-in DNS leak protection.

9. Does DNS Leak Test log my data?

According to its privacy policy, DNS Leak Test does not store or associate your IP address with any personally identifiable information. Its purpose is to help users find security vulnerabilities, not to exploit user data.

10. Is a DNS leak the only way I can be tracked online?

No. A DNS leak is just one method of tracking at the network level. At the application level, websites primarily track you through “browser fingerprinting.” This is a unique identifier created by collecting information about your browser and device, such as fonts, plugins, screen resolution, and operating system.

Beyond DNS Protection: Your Browser Fingerprint Also Needs Shielding

Fixing a DNS leak is a crucial step in protecting your network connection’s anonymity, but it doesn’t completely stop you from being tracked. Your browser itself is a major source of information leaks. Websites create a “fingerprint” by analyzing your unique browser configuration, and this fingerprint can remain the same even if you change your IP address, allowing your activities to be linked.

To combat this more advanced tracking technology, you need a professional tool. FlashID is a leading fingerprint browser that solves this problem. FlashID prevents websites from accessing your real device information by creating completely separate and authentic virtual fingerprint environments for each browser profile. You can safely manage multiple accounts on one computer, with each account having a unique browser fingerprint, just as if you were operating on different physical devices.

Therefore, by combining a secure VPN with the FlashID fingerprint browser, you can achieve comprehensive privacy protection from the network layer to the application layer, ensuring your digital identity remains truly anonymous and secure.