One of the key services that you get from your internet service provider is the use of their DNS servers. DNS, or the Domain Name System, is the reason you can type www.techsupportalert.com into your browser instead of http://72.52.134.16. They both work equally well, but DNS provides the lookup mechanism to your PC and other devices which avoids you having to remember the numbers for each web site you want to visit.
Not all DNS servers are reliable, and a troublesome DNS means that the internet will be unusable until your provider fixes it. Plus, because the DNS server knows your own IP address and also the names of all the web sites you've visited, some ISPs sell that data or use it for their own marketing purposes.
If you want to try using a DNS server other than the one that your PC is currently configured to use, Verisign will let you use theirs for free. You just need to spend a couple of minutes changing a setting on your PC or router, and the job is done. And if you don't like it, you can always put things back to how they were (so long as you remembered to make a note of the previous setting before you changed it).
Verisign is a respected player in internet and security issues, and they promise never to sell or misuse your data. So if you'd like to try the service, just head to https://publicdnsforum.verisign.com/discussion/13/verisign-public-dns-se... for detailed instructions on how to do it. Or if you already know how to change DNS entries, the numbers you need to know are 64.6.64.6 and 64.6.65.6.
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Comments
@Crosseyedlemon
Same here, WI and AT&T and locked down gateway (modem and router in one box).
I wanted to use OpenDNS and the WiFi signal of the AT&T gateway was not sufficiently strong at the other end of the house. So I bought a stronger TP-Link router on a special offer for a low price.
Basically I use the AT&T gateway only as the modem and have it all in the router PLUS excellent WiFi signal everywhere in the house.
It's also far more effective to make this change at the router and let it propagate from there to all the PCs and other devices.
Another small (634K), free and .zip program for manipulating DNS settings is DNS Jumper from:
http://www.sordum.org/7952/dns-jumper-v2-0
Current version is 2.0. You can compare speeds at any given time and it only takes a second or two to change DNS servers.
[Moderator's note: Link changed from download page to product page. Please post link to product page and not download page.]
OpenDNS all the way, for the past dozen years and counting.
I've been using OpenDNS for years and have been saved several times from going to nefarious. i use their "FamilyShield servers because I have no desire to visit porn sites
https://blog.opendns.com/2010/06/23/introducing-familyshield-parental-controls/.
Depending on where you live and what internet service provider you have, changing to another DNS might invalidate the contract you have agreed to so users need to be aware of that.
@Crosseyedlemon
WHAT? Frankly and honestly, do you only fear, expect or conjure that up or do you have a real example? Then please names a.s.o.
I know for a fact that here in Wisconsin AT&T gave me a router that does not allow the DNS server addresses to be changed; I tried it. So I just set openDNS up in all my computers because that overrides the router setting, checked and confirmed.
OpenDNS for home is found at https://www.opendns.com/home-internet-security/