How to run a DNS leak test？

DNS leaks could potentially expose a significant amount of data about your online behavior to potential snoops. To help deal with potential leak risks, we introduce our free DNS leak test tool. Next, we'll briefly explain what DNS is, what a DNS leak is, and how to do the DNS leak test.

What is a DNS?

The Domain Name System (DNS) serves as the internet's directory. It converts user-friendly website names, such as 'google.com’ into IP addresses that computers utilize for connectivity. Your ISP manages the DNS servers and takes care of the conversion. It should be noted that these DNS requests are unencrypted, enabling your ISP to record the sites you browse.

What is DNS leak?

In an ideal situation, a VPN should enable all DNS queries to be securely rerouted, hence safeguarding the privacy of your browsing activities. However, a contrast to this occurs when a DNS leak happens—your DNS request bypasses the VPN connection (and thus isn't encrypted), potentially laying your online activity bare to your ISP.

How to do a DNS leak test?

Conducting a DNS leak test is important for two main reasons. Firstly, it assures that your ISP or any third party can't access your DNS queries. Secondly, it's a vital tool to verify if your VPN is successfully securing your online traffic. The process is quite simple. Here are the steps:

❑ Step 1: Set up X-VPN

Download and launch your X-VPN.

❑ Step 2: Start the Test

While connected, proceed to the DNS Leak Test tool offered by X-VPN. After arriving on this page, a DNS leak test is automatically initiated for you. When you switch the X-VPN line, you can click on 'Retest' to perform the test once more.

❑ Step 3: Evaluate the Results

If your IP matches the DNS server IP, there will be no DNS leaks. Please note that "Your IP" here refers to the X-VPN server IP you are connected to, so please be sure to confirm that you have correctly connected to X-VPN before doing the test.

It's worth mentioning that there are potential risks associated with manually setting up DNS in your browser. Doing so means that all browser DNS requests are not routed through the VPN tunnel and therefore remain unencrypted. In addition, the third-party DNS server you set up may also violate your privacy by obtaining your data through this process.

For more guidance on this, you can refer to our article and set up DNS correctly in your browser for added security.

Need further help? Please contact us or write to support@xvpn.io.