Computers Google DNS starts today

Hammock Parties · 12-03-2009, 05:03 PM

Sweet.

http://lifehacker.com/5418211/google...yline=true&s=x

Quote:

Google today launched a new, free DNS service—called Google Public DNS—aimed at making your web browsing experience even faster. Here's how it works:

For those of you who are unfamiliar with DNS (and it's cool if you are—as long as DNS is working, most people never need to know what's going on), Google offers an explanation:

Most of us aren't familiar with DNS because it's often handled automatically by our Internet Service Provider (ISP), but it provides an essential function for the web. You could think of it as the switchboard of the Internet, converting easy-to-remember domain names - e.g., www.google.com - into the unique Internet Protocol (IP) numbers - e.g., 74.125.45.100 - that computers use to communicate with one another.

Google Public DNS, then, aims to replace your ISP's default DNS with a (hopefully) faster, safer, and more reliable alternative. Google Public DNS isn't the first freely available alternate DNS we've seen. Previously mentioned OpenDNS is an excellent DNS alternative (it boasts keyboard shortcuts, parental filters, and more), but—for better or worse—we're guessing that even more people may be interested in Google's offering.

To set up your computer or router to use Google Public DNS, hit up Google's instructions (they've got specific instructions for Windows, Mac, Linux, or your router).

I swapped my DNS to Google's service earlier today and so far my page loading seems to have a spring it its step, but you know how these things go. If you give it a try, let's hear whether things are feeling snappier for you in the comments.

Update: Reader Manu writes in to share the results of his Google Public DNS testing, and Google's DNS looks pretty blazing—particularly for international users. For folks in the U.S., OpenDNS looks like it may still be a touch faster—at least according to Manu's results.

dtebbe · 12-03-2009, 05:16 PM

I've used OpenDNS for a few years now. I got sick of AT&T's lousy DNS servers being down all the time.

DT

Garcia Bronco · 12-03-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtebbe

I've used OpenDNS for a few years now. I got sick of AT&T's lousy DNS servers being down all the time.

DT

try working with those dumbasses in a corporate production environment. It's like talking to Union Labor...

Royal Fanatic · 12-04-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

try working with those dumbasses in a corporate production environment. It's like talking to Union Labor...

The only thing worse than the "dumbasses" in a corporate production environment are the users who think that since they know how to turn on a PC, move a mouse, and maybe even click on the "install" button, they know more about computers and operating systems and networking and security than the people who actually do that for a living.

I can't tell you how many times the dumbasses I work with bitch and complain because we protect our network with a firewall, and then they STILL manage to infect their laptops with malware because they take them home and surf the porn sites.

My guess is that your corporate I/T guys have a pretty good reason for not letting you screw around with your network settings.

**QuikSsurfer** · 12-03-2009, 05:17 PM

Cool.
I've used openDNS in the past. I'll try this one on the macbook later today.

**007** · 12-03-2009, 05:30 PM

How will it be better than opendns though. Does it have tracking tools and allow you to block websites?

Hammock Parties · 12-03-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

How will it be better than opendns though. Does it have tracking tools and allow you to block websites?

It's better for those of us who want tits on the screen.

RippedmyFlesh · 12-04-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

How will it be better than opendns though. Does it have tracking tools and allow you to block websites?

Seems like someone should have made that a browser function that works.

**DaFace** · 12-03-2009, 06:31 PM

Neat. I'll have to give it a try, though honestly I haven't really had an issue with Qwest's DNS servers.

**CrazyPhuD** · 12-03-2009, 06:47 PM

So if you try to go to Bing does it redirect you to a page that says..."I'm sorry dave I can't do that."

Taco John · 12-03-2009, 07:04 PM

I'm having a tough time seeing the actual benefit here.

Hammock Parties · 12-03-2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

I'm having a tough time seeing the actual benefit here.

It's supposed to be faster.

Taco John · 12-04-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

It's supposed to be faster.

Hmmm... Maybe I take my cable connection for granted. I don't really have any complaints about the speed the pages are loading at. It just seems like another way for Google to be able to pin your profile down so that they can use your info to market around.

Fish · 12-04-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

It's supposed to be faster.

?

Quote:

For folks in the U.S., OpenDNS looks like it may still be a touch faster—at least according to Manu's results.

**penguinz** · 12-04-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

It's supposed to be faster.

BS. All this does is give Google another way to datamine and track tendencies on the internet.

12-03-2009, 05:16 PM	#2
dtebbe 3M TA3 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: SoFlo Casino cash: $9993039	I've used OpenDNS for a few years now. I got sick of AT&T's lousy DNS servers being down all the time. DT
Posts: 4,305

12-03-2009, 05:17 PM	#5
QuikSsurfer Got swag? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Madison, MS Casino cash: $10008287	Cool. I've used openDNS in the past. I'll try this one on the macbook later today. __________________
Posts: 11,847

12-03-2009, 05:30 PM	#6
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $12230126 VARSITY	How will it be better than opendns though. Does it have tracking tools and allow you to block websites? __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,732

12-03-2009, 06:31 PM	#9
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $-1653101	Neat. I'll have to give it a try, though honestly I haven't really had an issue with Qwest's DNS servers.
Posts: 53,118

12-03-2009, 06:47 PM	#10
CrazyPhuD Meow Join Date: Jun 2005 Casino cash: $10005050	So if you try to go to Bing does it redirect you to a page that says..."I'm sorry dave I can't do that." __________________ "Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t*rd by the clean end"
Posts: 8,523

12-03-2009, 07:04 PM	#11
Taco John Sapere Aude Join Date: Jun 2001 Casino cash: $617937	I'm having a tough time seeing the actual benefit here. __________________ Ehyeh asher ehyeh. Donger's Razor: "The most establishment-friendly explanation that gives leftist and neocon politicians the most amount of cover is the only possible explanation, even when gaping holes and leaps of logic are required to get there."
Posts: 79,714