Advice Request Should I stop using Google Public DNS Service, or not?

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kamo_jisan

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Sep 3, 2016
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Hello everyone. Thank you for accessing this thread.
Would you give me some answers for resolving my question?

I'm having a question about using Public DNS Service. The focal point is the keeping privacy of myself.

I am contracting a small cable-TV company in my hometown for connecting Internet through Cable-TV network.

The speed of the network is very slow. I guess that the one of the reason is DNS Server of ISP.
I configured my PC to use Google Public DNS instead of original DNS Server of my ISP.
I am feeling faster in the web-browsing speed than using ISP's DNS Server.

But now, I am having some worries about keeping my privacy when I use Public DNS Server.
I have heard that Google Public DNS service logs some personal information of users; IP Address, Area, and more...

By the way, I am having some Google Accounts for using some services (e.g. Gmail.)
My Gmail account is including my privacy; my address, emails from shopping sites, and important information of some other web services accounts.

Will my personal information (privacy) in Google account be associated with web-browsing data (Accessed Site's URL, and IP-address, Area) by Google?


The risk of invasion of privacy by using Public DNS Services are realistic?
Should I stop using Google Public DNS? or not?
Which DNS is the best, Google Publich DNS, Cisco Open DNS, or original DNS of my provider?



Did you know about it, and right way for keeping privacy?
Thank you very much!

---

Windows10 Home 64bit
Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer
Bitdefender Total Security 2017
Country: Japan
Internet serice provider: Local cable TV company in my town.
 

Evjl's Rain

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google DNS is no doubt the fastest. The security level must be also great because it's google

OpenDNS is not stable in speed, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. It can block bad stuffs. However, I think the security level is less

Your ISP DNS is the least secure. Very prone to hacking and server dropping. It's fast in local websites but may be slow in international websites
 
D

Deleted member 2913

It's fast in local websites but may be slow in international websites
Above is the reason I got into changing the DNS.
I always used ISP DNS with no prob, except audio/video chat abroad was always with annoying consistent connection drop, voice breakage, etc...
I thought lets try other DNS. DnsJumper fastest DNS test always showed Google DNS fastest for me. So gave a try to Google DNS & the mentioned prob was solved. I started using Google DNS & no probs yet.
 

Dirk41

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Mar 17, 2016
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If you want speed stay with Google or even better try DNS jumper like @frogboy suggest

If you want security ( I mean malicious websites/ ads/ phishing ) try norton /adguard /alternate ( actually I don't see any difference here using norton or the others , as far as they work , but I don't watch much tv online )
 

Fritz

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Sep 28, 2015
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The thing is, your data will go to some DNS, no matter what. Well, unless you got a 3TB host file or run your own DNS. :p

Since you are giving it away either way, you might as well use the most secure service.

Now, I don't trust Google any farther than I can throw them, as far as using my data for ad purposes goes. But from a pure security standpoint, Google is your best bet really, no doubt there.
 

Fritz

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I'm not the kind of person who cares a lot about privacy

One day you might, wenn your health insurance goes up because your shopping history shows a clear interest in skiing, mountain biking and other high risk sports or when your credit rating hits rock bottom because of some friends you associate yourself with on Facebook. It's just a matter of time really.
 

Aura

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Jul 29, 2014
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One day you might, wenn your health insurance goes up because your shopping history shows a clear interest in skiing, mountain biking and other high risk sports or when your credit rating hits rock bottom because of some friends you associate yourself with on Facebook. It's just a matter of time really.

Never heard of such stories so far. Also, I'm not skiing, doing mountain biking or any high risks sports. The day it happens (IF it ever happens) I'll give it some thoughts, but right now, I couldn't care less and these "concerns" gets in the way of my job more than anything else.
 

Fritz

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Well, the thing is that anticipating situations is usually the safer bet.

Fact: Data that is available will be used. Right now, credit rating companies already go partially by where you live, because that information is readily available. So you might end up paying more for a car loan or not get one at all, because your neighbors never cared much for paying their bills. In most countries, car insurance rates are calculated besides age and other stuff by the bracket your car model fits in and how many folks have how many accidents with those models. You will suffer from both even though you might pay every bill on time and drive completely by the book.

Now those are just two official examples right now. Recently, I read about a rating company planning to use your contacts on Facebook in order to figure out your financial reliability. There was a bit of an outcry here, but it died down. Maybe they use that data already. Your potential employer probably already does. Connected cars will soon be the future, sending out your location. And the change of that location over time, which equals to speed. Compare that data with a map and that fine could just reach your inbox before you arrive at your door.

Skiing and mountain biking were, of course, just some examples. Might as well be the fotos that show you smoking or the supermarket bill history showing a consumption of red meat or alcohol above average. I think you get the drift.

All of this is data that will bite us in the ass rather sooner than later. The day that happens, concern will be moot since the methods are established and won't just go away. In the end, you won't have hurt just yourself but also everyone else. That's the reason I'm so vocal about it, otherwise I couldn't care less if people spread their intimate details all over the place.

Now I don't want to get overly dramatic, but I think the following does fit in a way:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Pastor Martin Niemöller
 

Windows_Security

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In US and EUR Norton DNS free is also a good option. When you use Chrome as browser you have the advantage of two URL-filters. Add Avast online security or Bitdefender's traffic light and you have a tripple URL-filter which no third party host file filter can match in user scope and automated crawler outreach).
 

Soulbound

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Jan 14, 2015
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privacy concerns are minimal. At this day and age, everyone is so concerned about privacy that takes a step further for the definition of paranoid.

if google dns is a bit slow, use another dns.

as said above by others, some prefer speed, others security.

I have ISP DNS on some systems, while OpenDNS on another.

Everyone will have a different opinion on what DNS to use what not to use. take the suggestions with a pinch of salt and try it yourself, like it has been suggested, use DNSJumper.

Thing to note is where the original DNS servers of the DNS service you are about to use are located may or may not be slower than your stock ISP.
 
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