Discover Your Real DNS IP Address: Step-by-Step Guide

Have you ever wondered what your DNS IP address is and why it matters? Every device connected to the internet has an IP address, including your computer, smartphone, and any other device you use to access the internet. However, when you visit a website, you don’t directly connect to the website’s IP address. Instead, your device connects to a DNS server that translates the website’s domain name into an IP address. This is why it’s crucial to know your real DNS IP address and how to secure it.

In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how to discover your real DNS IP address and explain why it’s essential to do so. We’ll cover everything from why your DNS IP address is important, how to check your current DNS IP address, and the steps you need to follow to find your real DNS server IP address.

By the end of this article, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge you need to secure your DNS IP address and protect yourself from potential cyber threats. So, let’s dive in and discover how to find your real DNS IP address.

Why is Your DNS IP Address Important?

Most people don’t give much thought to their DNS IP address until something goes wrong. But your DNS IP address plays a crucial role in your internet browsing experience. In simple terms, it’s like the phone book of the internet. When you type in a website URL, the DNS server translates that into an IP address that your device can understand. This process happens every time you connect to a website. If your DNS server is slow, unreliable, or compromised, it can significantly affect your online activities.

But why is this important? For starters, a slow DNS server can lead to longer load times, which can be frustrating if you’re trying to browse the web quickly. An unreliable DNS server can also cause connection issues, such as not being able to access certain websites. And if your DNS server is compromised by malware, it can put your online privacy and security at risk.

So, it’s important to understand what your DNS IP address is and how to keep it secure. By taking a few simple steps, you can ensure that your DNS server is reliable and safe, which can improve your overall internet browsing experience.

Ensures Reliable Internet Connection

1. Stable: Your DNS server IP address provides a stable and consistent internet connection. A slow or unresponsive DNS server can cause problems like slow internet speed, timeout errors, and page not found errors.

2. Redundancy: Having a backup DNS IP address is important in case your primary DNS server fails. This redundancy ensures that you can always have access to the internet.

3. Efficiency: A reliable DNS IP address helps to ensure that you are not wasting time waiting for pages to load or dealing with connection issues. It makes your internet connection more efficient and saves you time and frustration.

A reliable DNS IP address is crucial for ensuring that you have a fast and reliable internet connection. Without it, you may experience slow speeds, connection issues, and other frustrating problems. By understanding the importance of your DNS server IP address, you can ensure that your internet connection is always working efficiently and effectively.

How to Check Your Current DNS IP Address?

If you are not sure what your current DNS IP address is, there are several ways to check it:

Method 1: Check Network Settings – On Windows, navigate to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings. Right-click on your active connection and select “Status”. Click the “Details” button and your DNS IP address should be listed under “IPv4 DNS Server”. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Network. Select your active connection and click on “Advanced”. Click on the “DNS” tab and your DNS IP address should be listed.

Method 2: Use Command Prompt or Terminal – On Windows, open the Command Prompt and type “ipconfig /all”. Look for “DNS Servers” under your active connection. On Mac, open Terminal and type “scutil –dns”. Look for “nameserver” followed by your DNS IP address.

Method 3: Use an Online Tool – There are several websites that can show you your current DNS IP address. One popular tool is “WhatIsMyDNS.net”. Simply visit the website and it will display your DNS IP address.

Method 4: Ask Your Internet Service Provider – If all else fails, you can contact your internet service provider and ask them for your DNS IP address.

Knowing how to check your current DNS IP address is important for troubleshooting network issues and ensuring a secure and reliable internet connection.

Using Command Prompt on Windows

If you are a Windows user, you can check your DNS IP address by using the Command Prompt tool. Follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key and typing “cmd.”
• Step 2: Type “ipconfig /all” and press Enter. This will display your network configuration information.
• Step 3: Look for the “DNS Servers” line to find your DNS IP address. It should be listed next to the numerical IP address.
• Step 4: If you have multiple DNS IP addresses listed, the first one is usually the one you are currently using.

Using Command Prompt is a simple and quick way to check your DNS IP address on Windows. However, if you prefer a more user-friendly method, you can use the network settings menu.

Using Terminal on Mac

If you’re a Mac user, you can also find your current DNS IP address by using the Terminal application. Follow these simple steps:

• Step 1: Open the Terminal app on your Mac. You can find it by searching for “Terminal” in Spotlight or by navigating to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
• Step 2: In the Terminal window, type the following command: networksetup -getdnsservers Wi-Fi. This command will display the IP address of your DNS server for your Wi-Fi connection.
• Step 3: To find the DNS IP address for another network interface, replace “Wi-Fi” in the command with the name of that interface. For example, to find the DNS IP address for your Ethernet connection, you would type: networksetup -getdnsservers Ethernet.
• Step 4: Press enter and your current DNS IP address will be displayed in the Terminal window.

Once you have your current DNS IP address, you can compare it to your expected DNS IP address to ensure that your internet connection is secure and reliable.

Steps to Find Your Real DNS Server IP Address:

Step 1: Access the Command Prompt or Terminal on your device.

Step 2: Type in the command “nslookup” followed by the domain name of the website you want to query.

Step 3: Your device will display the IP address of the DNS server that resolved the domain name.

Keep in mind that if your device is using a DNS proxy service, the IP address displayed may not be your real DNS server IP address. In such cases, you may need to disable the proxy service or consult with your network administrator to find your real DNS server IP address.

Step 1: Check Router’s Configuration Page

Accessing your router’s configuration page is the first step to check for the DNS IP address assigned by your internet service provider. To access the page, open a web browser and type your router’s IP address in the address bar. If you do not know the router’s IP address, you can find it using the command prompt or terminal.

Login to the router’s configuration page using the username and password. If you have not changed the default login credentials, you can find them in the router’s manual or on the manufacturer’s website. Once logged in, navigate to the Network or WAN settings section.

Look for the DNS server settings in the Network or WAN settings section. The location of the DNS settings may vary depending on the router model and manufacturer. Once you find the DNS server settings, note down the IP address listed under the DNS server or primary DNS server field. This is the DNS IP address assigned by your internet service provider.

How to Change Your DNS IP Address?

If you want to improve your internet speed or security, changing your DNS IP address can be a good option. Here are some steps to do so:

Step 1: Go to your computer’s network settings and find the option to change your DNS server.

Step 2: Enter the new DNS server IP address that you want to use. You can use a public DNS server like Google DNS, Cloudflare DNS, or OpenDNS.

Step 3: Save the changes and restart your device to make sure the new DNS settings take effect.

It’s important to note that changing your DNS server may affect your internet connection, so be sure to choose a reliable DNS server and backup your previous settings in case you need to revert back to them.

Changing DNS on Windows

To change your DNS IP address on Windows, follow the steps below:

1. Open Network and Sharing Center: Click on the Windows Start menu and search for “Network and Sharing Center”.
2. Open Network Adapter Properties: Click on the “Change adapter settings” option on the left sidebar, right-click on the network adapter you want to configure, and select “Properties”.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4): In the Properties window, select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click on the “Properties” button.
4. Enter the DNS server IP addresses: In the new window, select the option “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter the IP addresses of your preferred DNS servers.

Once you have entered the new DNS server IP addresses, click “OK” and close all windows. Your computer will now use the new DNS server for resolving domain names.

Best Practices to Secure Your DNS IP Address

Use a secure DNS service: It is essential to use a secure and reliable DNS service that encrypts your data and protects you from cyber threats. Look for a DNS service that uses DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) or DNS-over-TLS (DoT) protocols, which encrypt your DNS traffic and make it harder for attackers to intercept.

Keep your DNS software up-to-date: DNS software needs to be updated regularly to patch any vulnerabilities that may arise. Make sure to install updates as soon as they become available to ensure that your DNS server is secure and protected.

Implement DNS security extensions: DNS security extensions such as DNSSEC can help prevent DNS attacks such as cache poisoning and man-in-the-middle attacks. By digitally signing DNS records, DNSSEC provides an additional layer of security to your DNS server and ensures that the responses you receive are authentic.

Update Your Router’s Firmware

Regularly updating your router’s firmware is essential to secure your DNS IP address. Firmware updates provide bug fixes, security patches, and new features that keep your router running efficiently and safely. Check your router manufacturer’s website for firmware updates and follow the instructions to update the firmware.

Make sure to choose a strong and unique password for your router’s administration page. Change the default password and use a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using personal information, such as your name or birthdate, in your password.

Enable the latest security features on your router, such as WPA3 encryption. WPA3 is the most secure encryption protocol available and provides protection against brute force attacks, password cracking, and other vulnerabilities.

Use a Secure DNS Service

DNS over HTTPS (DoH): One of the best ways to secure your DNS queries is to use a DNS over HTTPS (DoH) service. DoH encrypts your DNS queries and sends them over a secure HTTPS connection, making it difficult for anyone to eavesdrop on your queries.

DNS over TLS (DoT): Another way to secure your DNS is to use a DNS over TLS (DoT) service. DoT is similar to DoH but instead of using HTTPS, it uses TLS to encrypt your DNS queries.

VPN: Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can also help secure your DNS queries. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, including your DNS queries, and sends it through a secure tunnel to a remote server.

Firewall: A firewall can help protect your DNS by blocking unauthorized access to your network. Make sure your firewall is configured properly and is up to date to ensure maximum protection.

What Happens if Your DNS IP Address is Compromised?

If your DNS IP address is compromised, several things could happen. Hackers could redirect your traffic to a fake website that looks like the real one, but which steals your personal information such as login credentials and credit card details. They could also intercept your traffic and inject malware into your device, compromising your security further.

Another risk of a compromised DNS IP address is DNS hijacking, which occurs when attackers redirect your device to a malicious server, allowing them to control your DNS requests and potentially steal sensitive data.

Compromised DNS can also result in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which overload a website’s servers with traffic and cause it to crash. This can disrupt online services and cause significant damage to a company’s reputation and finances.

Exposes Your Browsing History

If your DNS IP address is compromised, it can lead to exposing your browsing history. This is because your DNS server maintains a record of all the websites you visit, and if it falls into the wrong hands, it can be used to track your online activities.

Additionally, if you use unencrypted connections, such as HTTP, the attacker can intercept and view the data transmitted between your computer and the website, including login credentials, credit card information, and other sensitive data.

Moreover, if your DNS server is hijacked, the attacker can redirect your web traffic to malicious websites that can install malware on your computer or steal your data.

To protect your browsing history, it is crucial to secure your DNS IP address by following the best practices mentioned above.

Can Lead to Phishing Attacks

Compromised DNS can be used to redirect you to fake websites that mimic legitimate ones, stealing your sensitive data such as login credentials and credit card information. These are known as phishing attacks, and they can be hard to detect as the fake website may look almost identical to the real one.

Phishing attacks can also come in the form of email or instant message scams, known as “phishing emails.” These emails try to trick you into clicking on a link or downloading an attachment that will compromise your DNS and potentially infect your device with malware.

To avoid falling victim to phishing attacks, it is essential to be cautious of any suspicious links or messages and to use security software to protect against malware and other threats.

May Slow Down Your Internet Connection

Another consequence of a compromised DNS IP address is that it may slow down your internet connection. This is because when your DNS is compromised, your traffic is often routed through a third-party server, which can lead to delays in processing your requests. Additionally, some malicious actors may use your compromised DNS to redirect your traffic to fake websites or to carry out distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, which can further slow down your internet connection.

To avoid this, it’s important to regularly check your DNS settings and ensure that they haven’t been changed without your knowledge. You should also consider using a reputable DNS service provider that can help protect your DNS queries and prevent them from being intercepted or manipulated by attackers.

By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your internet connection remains fast, reliable, and secure.

Conclusion

Changing your DNS IP address can have several benefits, including faster and more secure browsing, as well as access to region-restricted content. However, it’s important to take necessary steps to secure your DNS settings, such as updating your router’s firmware and using a secure DNS service.

In addition, if your DNS IP address is compromised, it can lead to serious security issues such as exposing your browsing history and even phishing attacks. Therefore, it’s crucial to regularly monitor your DNS settings and take necessary actions to prevent any potential security breaches.

By following the best practices mentioned in this guide and staying vigilant about your DNS settings, you can ensure a safe and secure online browsing experience.

Ensure Your DNS IP Address is Secure

Securing your DNS IP address is crucial for protecting your online activities from unauthorized access, monitoring, and cyber threats. Follow the best practices mentioned in this article, such as updating your router’s firmware, using a secure DNS service, and changing your DNS IP address periodically, to ensure your DNS IP address is secure.

Regularly monitoring your DNS activity and keeping your antivirus and firewall software up to date can also help you detect and prevent any potential DNS attacks. By taking these measures, you can protect your online privacy, prevent data breaches, and ensure a safe and secure browsing experience.

Remember, your DNS IP address is a crucial component of your online security. By taking the necessary steps to secure it, you can protect yourself from potential cyber threats and enjoy a safer and more secure online experience.

Frequently Asked Questions