Help protect your privacy by changing Microsoft web browser settings to force DNS-over-HTTPS to be enabled.
Microsoft announced a few weeks ago that it wanted to integrate native support for the DNS-over-HTTPS protocol on Windows 10. Thanks to it, the protection of the privacy of its users will be reinforced thanks to the automatic encryption of DNS requests.
While at this time the availability date of such a feature in Microsoft's OS is unknown, users can already activate the feature in the Microsoft Edge web browser.
Like Chrome and Firefox, Microsoft's new browser version supports encrypted DNS. However, the feature is not available by default and requires that you activate a specific setting within a hidden menu. Here is how to do it.
1. Access the flags
The new version of Microsoft Edge is based on Chromium, so it shares a number of elements with Chrome. This is the case for example with flags, hidden experimental functions that can be activated. To activate encrypted DNS on Microsoft Edge, you will need to access these famous flags.
To do this, open an Edge window then, in the address bar, type edge: // flags and validate using the Enter key on the keyboard.
2. Activate the flag
In the search box displayed at the top of the window, type secure dns lookups.
Once the setting is displayed, click on the drop-down menu on the right and change the Default value to Enabled. Then restart the browser by clicking on the appropriate button.
3. Configure a compatible DNS on Windows
Enabling DNS-over-HTTPS protocol in Microsoft Edge can only work if the DNS configured on your PC supports this feature.
You can verify this by going directly to https://1.1.1.1/help, CloudFlare's DNS service, where you will see a line Using DNS over HTTPS (DoH), followed by Yes when encrypted DNS is active, and No when it is not.
To change the DNS resolver configured on your Windows PC, open Settings using the Windows + i keyboard shortcut and go to the menu dedicated to Network and Internet.
Under the heading Change your network settings, click Change adapter options.
Depending on your connection type (Ethernet or Wi-Fi), right-click on the network card, and enter Properties.
Then select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4), and click the Properties button.
In the window that appears, in the lower section devoted to DNS, choose Use the following DNS server address and enter the addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers you wish to use. Then confirm by pressing OK.
Examples of possible DNS servers (IPv4):
Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1
OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 / 208.67.220.220
FDN (French Data Network): 80.67.169.12 / 80.67.169.40
Google: 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4
Note however, if you are using the IPv6 version of the TPC / IP protocol, you will need to select this option (TCP / IPv6), and enter the addresses of the corresponding DNS servers. Check with your DNS provider to get it.
To check if Edge is now using encrypted DNS, return to https://1.1.1.1/help. The Debug Information pane should then display Yes in front of the Using DNS over HTTPS line.
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