Cloudflare announces 1.1.1.1 DNS service which aims to speed up your internet and protect privacy

Cloudflare, a US-based content delivery network, has launched its own DNS (domain name server) service which promises to improve your internet connection and ensure that privacy is maintained. This service will be using the address https://1.1.1.1 for resolving DNS which anyone can use. [caption id=“attachment_4414875” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Cloudflare’s DNS service[/caption] According to The Verge, Cloudflare claims that it will be the internet’s fastest, privacy-first consumer DNS service. Cloudflare has promised to wipe out all logs of DNS queries within 24 hours. Now DNS services are services typically offered by the internet service providers to resolve domain names. For instance, an address like firstpost.com will have to be converted into a real IP address that routers and switches can understand for you to access the page. Think of DNS as an internet directory. So every time you click on a link, open an app, send an email and so on, your device is communicating with the DNS directory to find out where it can find the addresses. Generally, DNS servers provided by ISPs are often slow. It is also not completely private as your ISP or anyone listening in on the internet can see your online behaviour every time you visit a site or use an app, even though the site content is encrypted. Cloudflare claims that it will not do any of that to ensure user privacy. “We will never log your IP address (the way other companies identify you). And we’re not just saying that. We’ve retained KPMG to audit our systems annually to ensure that we’re doing what we say. Frankly, we don’t want to know what you do on the Internet — it’s none of our business — and we’ve taken the technical steps to ensure we can’t,” promises Cloudflare. Cloudflare has partnered with APNIC to offer its DNS service through 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. APNIC is a non-profit organisation managing IP address allocation for the Asia Pacific and Oceania regions. “Cloudflare had the network. APNIC had the IP address (1.1.1.1). Both of us were motivated by a mission to help build a better Internet,” said Cloudflare. Steps to setup 1.1.1.1 on iPhone, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux and on a router has been neatly explained along with a video on 1.1.1.1.