Home » 

UK ISP News Archives

 » 
Sponsored Links

Google Public DNS Offers Alternative to OpenDNS for UK ISP Users

Posted: 04th Dec, 2009 By: MarkJ
Google has launched Google Public DNS, a FREE alternative to using your UK broadband ISPs own Domain Name Servers (DNS) to translate IP addresses into human readable form or vice versa. For example, a DNS server can convert an IP number (e.g. 123.56.23.89) into a domain name like Google.com.

This process is designed to happen seamlessly in the background, thus you will be unaware of its existence. However ISP DNS servers are not always the fastest or most secure and can suffer problems. In some cases they might even be used to restrict access to websites or hijack failed address requests with advertising.

Suffice to say that a lot of more technically minded folk tend to swap their ISP DNS servers for faster free alternatives like the popular OpenDNS or less well known Neustar. The change itself is usually extremely simple and both sites offer guides to do it, indeed we ourselves have never once looked back after adopting OpenDNS.

Now we also have Google's new system, which promises faster speed (most people won't notice a difference unless your ISP is extremely rubbish) thanks to its clever caching and better security. However it does not offer the same level of user controls and parental filtering options as OpenDNS. Some early users have also reported problems with slow latency.

Privacy is another concern with Google's system. Your connections IP logs are retained for 24 to 48 hours. Your location data (where in the world you are) and visited websites are also stored, although it is anonymised so that the data cannot be matched to an individual.

Finally, though Google claims its system will not be inserting advertising into your surfing experience, many doubt its honesty. After all, Google makes its money from advertising based search results and it would perhaps be naive to say that they wouldn't like to exploit the new system further.
Search ISP News
Search ISP Listings
Search ISP Reviews
 Latest UK ISP News
 Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: First 3 Months Free
Vodafone UK ISP Logo
Vodafone £23.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
Youfibre UK ISP Logo
Youfibre £23.99
150Mbps
Gift: None
NOW UK ISP Logo
NOW £25.00
100Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £25.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
150,000+ Customers | View More ISPs
 Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
BeFibre UK ISP Logo
BeFibre £19.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
Gigaclear UK ISP Logo
Gigaclear £19.00
300Mbps
Gift: None
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: First 3 Months Free
toob UK ISP Logo
toob £22.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
Vodafone UK ISP Logo
Vodafone £23.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
Modest Availability | View More ISPs
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: First 3 Months Free
Vodafone UK ISP Logo
Vodafone £23.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
Youfibre UK ISP Logo
Youfibre £23.99
150Mbps
Gift: None
NOW UK ISP Logo
NOW £25.00
100Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £25.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Large Availability | View All
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
BeFibre UK ISP Logo
BeFibre £19.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
Gigaclear UK ISP Logo
Gigaclear £19.00
300Mbps
Gift: None
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: First 3 Months Free
toob UK ISP Logo
toob £22.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
Vodafone UK ISP Logo
Vodafone £23.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
Large Availability | View All
Sponsored Links
The Top 15 Category Tags
  1. FTTP (6148)
  2. BT (3691)
  3. Politics (2773)
  4. Business (2480)
  5. Openreach (2446)
  6. Building Digital UK (2363)
  7. Mobile Broadband (2197)
  8. FTTC (2094)
  9. Statistics (1950)
  10. 4G (1854)
  11. Virgin Media (1811)
  12. Ofcom Regulation (1613)
  13. Fibre Optic (1489)
  14. Wireless Internet (1477)
  15. 5G (1451)
Sponsored

Copyright © 1999 to Present - ISPreview.co.uk - All Rights Reserved - Terms  ,  Privacy and Cookie Policy  ,  Links  ,  Website Rules