There are several protocols and systems in place that make the internet function as it does. We've discussed DNS (domain name system) in the past. This component translates user-friendly website names into machine-friendly IP addresses, and makes for a seamless browsing experience.
Your computer likely obtains DNS info automatically from your internet service provider, but you can use an alternate DNS service if you'd like. This can potentially bring greater security and even unblock region-restricted content. Here's how to change your DNS settings on a Mac.
Click the System Preferences icon in your Dock or go to Apple > System Preferences. Select the Network icon and make sure your current connection is highlighted on the left side. Click the Advanced button, then the DNS tab. On the left side, you'll see a current list of your DNS addresses. Go ahead and click the little plus icon below this list to add a new one.
Here, you'll need to plug in some DNS provider information. Consult a public DNS list for any address you could imagine, or use one of these few popular ones:
Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 for primary, 8.8.4.4 for secondary.
VeriSign Public DNS: 64.6.64.6 primary; 64.6.65.6 secondary.
Click OK when you're all set, then Apply on the resulting pop-up to apply these changes to your current network settings. That's it! You're now using an alternate DNS provider when browsing on your Mac.
For more on DNS, read about how a major DNS provider was attacked last week, bringing several major websites down.
Are you sticking with the default DNS settings for your Mac, or will you try an alternative? Let us know in the comments!
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