DNS

DNS, the Domain Name System, is the internet's phone book that turns a website name into the address your phone connects to.

DNS: DNS, or Domain Name System, translates names you type, like a bank's website, into the numeric addresses computers use. Your phone asks a DNS server for this answer every time you open a site. If the answer is false, you may land on a fake page.

Every website visit or app connection starts with a DNS question. By default your phone uses the DNS of your mobile network or Wi-Fi router. If a router is hacked or a free Wi-Fi owner is dishonest, they can answer with the address of a fake bank page that looks exactly right, while the name in the bar still looks normal.

Some tools filter DNS, so known harmful sites do not load at all. Private DNS settings in Android can use a trusted provider with encrypted lookups. Change the default password of your home router, keep its software updated, and be careful about connecting to unknown Wi-Fi networks before you do banking. Ask your bank or internet provider before changing any DNS setting, and never follow a message that tells you to type in a strange DNS number.

Tips

• Change your home router's admin password and keep its firmware updated.
• In Android settings you can choose a trusted Private DNS provider for encrypted lookups.
• Use the Safeavio local DNS filter if you want a local layer that helps block risky sites on the phone.

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