Google Chrome: strengthen the protection of your privacy by activating an encrypted DNS

Mozilla formalized a few weeks ago the support of DNS-over-HTTPS in Firefox, a protocol allowing users to browse using encrypted DNS. The feature can now be activated on Google Chrome through a command line.

As a reminder, a DNS is a server responsible for converting the URL of the site into an IP address, which you enter in the address bar of your browser. To find the IP address corresponding to the server on which the site you want to reach is located, your browser queries a DNS server, which acts as a directory. Queries to this DNS server, generally provided by your Internet service provider, are made in the clear via port 53, thus offering your ISP an opportunity to identify the sites you are visiting.

Using encrypted DNS helps prevent this practice, as it encrypts all queries made. Enabling encrypted DNS within Google Chrome is not officially available, but its activation can be forced with just a few clicks.

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1. Access the properties

Look for the Chrome shortcut icon on your machine, on your desktop, in the taskbar, etc. Right click on the shortcut and go to Properties.

2. Modify the target

In the properties window, place the mouse cursor at the end of the Target line, make a space, and copy and paste as is, the following command:

–enable-features = “dns-over-https Validate by clicking on Apply then on OK. The above command forces the browser to use Cloudflare’s DNS servers.

3. Check the activation of encrypted DNS

To verify that you are now using encrypted DNS, go to the Cloudflare website, via the address https://1.1.1.1/help.

If everything went correctly, the debug window should indicate Yes to the Using DNS over HTTPS (DoH) line.

Sources:

ZDNet
Chromium