DNSCrypt Privacy Protection

DNSCrypt encrypts your DNS queries so nobody can spy on which websites you're looking up. It's like putting your internet searches in a sealed envelope instead of sending them on a postcard.

What is DNSCrypt?

When you browse the internet, your device constantlyasks "Where is google.com?" or "Where is facebook.com?" Without encryption, anyone can see these questions - your ISP, network operators, or anyone monitoring your connection.

DNSCrypt encrypts these questions so only you and trusted DNS servers can see them.

Why DNS Privacy Matters

Without DNSCrypt (Unencrypted DNS)

You → "Where is secretbank.com?" → ISP can see this → DNS Server
You → "Where is embarrassingsite.com?" → ISP can see this → DNS Server
You → "Where is job-search.com?" → ISP can see this → DNS Server

Your ISP sees every website you look up - they can build a complete profile of your browsing habits.

With DNSCrypt (Encrypted)

You → [encrypted request] → ISP sees encrypted data → Trusted DNS Server
You → [encrypted request] → ISP sees encrypted data → Trusted DNS Server
You → [encrypted request] → ISP sees encrypted data → Trusted DNS Server

Your ISP only sees that you're making DNS queries, not what you're looking up.

What DNSCrypt Protects

Your Privacy

• ISP can't see: Which websites you look up
• Network operators can't see: Your browsing destinations
• Eavesdroppers can't see: Your DNS queries on public WiFi

Your Security

• DNS spoofing prevention: Can't trick you into visiting fake sites
• Man-in-the-middle protection: Encrypted queries can't be intercepted
• DNSSEC validation: Cryptographic verification of DNS responses

Your Freedom

• Censorship bypass: ISPs can't block based on DNS queries
• Filtering resistance: Can't be blocked by simple DNS filtering
• Access restoration: Bypass DNS-based content restrictions

How It Works on Your Pimeleon

Your DNS queries go through multiple protection layers:

Your Device
    ↓
DNS filter (Ad Blocking)
    ↓
DNSCrypt (Encryption)
    ↓
Encrypted Connection
    ↓
Trusted DNS Providers

Trusted DNS Providers

Your queries are encrypted and sent to privacy-respecting providers:

Cloudflare (1.1.1.1)

• No logging of queries
• Fast response times
• Global infrastructure

Quad9 (9.9.9.9)

• No logging of queries
• Malware domain blocking
• Privacy-focused

These providers:

• Don't track you
• Don't sell your data
• Don't log your queries
• Support encrypted DNS protocols

Benefits You Get

Complete Privacy

• Your ISP can't see your browsing habits
• Network operators can't profile you
• Public WiFi eavesdroppers can't spy on you
• Government censorship is harder to implement

Enhanced Security

• Cryptographic verification of DNS responses
• Protection against DNS spoofing attacks
• Secure connection to DNS servers
• Validated domain information

Reliable Performance

• Multiple encrypted DNS servers for redundancy
• Automatic failover if one server is slow
• Local caching for frequently visited sites
• Optimized for speed despite encryption

.onion Support

Special integration with Tor network:

• .onion domains automatically routed through Tor
• Anonymous access to hidden services
• Privacy preserved for dark web access

How Fast Is It?

Performance Impact

Encryption adds minimal delay:

• First query: 20-50ms (checking and encrypting)
• Cached query: <1ms (instant from local cache)
• Average: Most users won't notice any difference

Why it's so fast:

• Modern encryption is very efficient
• Local caching eliminates repeated lookups
• Multiple servers ensure low latency
• Optimized connection handling

Compared to Unencrypted DNS

The slight speed tradeoff is worth the massive privacy gain.

What You Need to Know

For Regular Users

Answer: Nothing! DNSCrypt works automatically and transparently.

You don't need to:

• Install anything
• Configure anything
• Change any settings
• Think about it at all

Just browse normally - your queries are automatically encrypted.

For Privacy-Conscious Users

DNSCrypt provides:

• End-to-end encryption of DNS queries
• Multiple encryption protocols (DNSCrypt and DNS-over-HTTPS)
• Cryptographic verification (DNSSEC)
• Anonymous relay routing (optional)
• No logging by upstream providers

This is enterprise-grade privacy for free.

Common Questions

Does this hide my browsing from my ISP?

Partially. DNSCrypt hides your DNS queries but not your actual connections:

What's hidden:

• Which websites you look up
• Your DNS query patterns
• Domain names you're accessing

What's visible:

• That you're using encrypted DNS
• IP addresses you connect to (after DNS lookup)
• Amount of data transferred

For complete privacy, combine with VPN or Tor network.

Will this bypass censorship?

Sometimes. DNSCrypt bypasses:

• DNS-based censorship (blocking at DNS level)
• ISP DNS manipulation
• Some content filtering systems

It won't bypass:

• IP address blocking
• Deep packet inspection
• Network firewall rules
• Government-level internet shutdowns

Does this slow down my internet?

No. DNSCrypt only affects DNS lookups, not actual downloads:

• DNS happens once per domain (then cached)
• Adds ~20ms one-time delay
• Subsequent requests instant (cached)
• No impact on download speeds

You'll likely never notice the difference.

Can I turn it off?

DNSCrypt is configured network-wide. Your network administrator can:

• Adjust encryption settings
• Change upstream DNS providers
• Modify privacy features

As a user, you can't disable it (ensuring privacy for everyone).

Privacy Features Explained

DNSSEC Validation

Every DNS response is cryptographically verified:

• What it does: Ensures DNS responses haven't been tampered with
• Your benefit: Can't be redirected to fake websites
• How it works: Mathematical signatures verify authenticity

Anonymous Relay Routing

Optional privacy enhancement:

• What it does: Routes queries through relay servers
• Your benefit: Upstream DNS can't identify your IP address
• Trade-off: Slightly slower but more private

Query Pattern Protection

DNSCrypt prevents analysis of query patterns:

• Traffic analysis resistance: Can't determine browsing habits from traffic
• Timing obfuscation: Query timing patterns obscured
• Source hiding: Your IP address protected from upstream servers

Integration with Other Services

Works Seamlessly With

DNS filtering:

• Ad blocking happens first
• Allowed queries encrypted with DNSCrypt
• Best of both worlds: privacy + ad blocking

Tor network:

• .onion domains automatically routed through Tor
• Clear web traffic uses DNSCrypt
• Optimal routing for each type of request

DHCP configuration:

• All devices automatically use encrypted DNS
• No per-device setup required
• Network-wide privacy protection

Local Network Services

DNSCrypt doesn't interfere with:

• Local hostname resolution
• Network printer discovery
• File sharing services
• Smart home device discovery

Your local network continues to work perfectly.

Security Protections

What DNSCrypt Prevents

DNS Spoofing:

• Fake DNS responses blocked
• Cryptographic verification required
• Can't be redirected to malicious sites

Man-in-the-Middle Attacks:

• Encrypted connection prevents interception
• Authentication prevents impersonation
• Secure end-to-end communication

DNS Hijacking:

• Your ISP can't redirect your queries
• Captive portals can't manipulate DNS
• Government censorship harder to implement

What DNSCrypt Doesn't Prevent

Important limitations:

• Doesn't hide IP addresses you connect to
• Doesn't encrypt website traffic (use HTTPS for that)
• Doesn't prevent website tracking (use browser privacy tools)
• Doesn't provide anonymity (use Tor for that)

DNSCrypt is one layer of privacy - combine with other tools for complete protection.

troubleshooting

All Websites Slow to Load

Rare scenario - usually indicates a problem:

troubleshooting:

1. Check if router is functioning normally
2. Try visiting common websites (Google, etc.)
3. Run internet speed test
4. Contact network administrator

Possible causes:

• Upstream DNS servers having issues
• Internet connection problem
• Router performance issue

Can't Access .onion Sites

Symptom: .onion addresses don't load

Solution:

• Verify Tor service is running (contact admin)
• Check that .onion address is correct
• Try using Tor browser for .onion access

Note: .onion sites are special Tor hidden services

DNSSEC Validation Errors

Symptom: Some websites fail with security errors

Cause: Domain has invalid DNSSEC signatures

This is protection working:

• Invalid signatures indicate tampering or misconfiguration
• DNSCrypt correctly blocked potentially malicious response
• This is a feature, not a bug

Solution: Try different website or contact domain owner

Best Practices

Trust the Encryption

DNSCrypt uses battle-tested cryptography:

• Industry-standard encryption
• Regular security audits
• Open source (can be verified)
• Trusted by privacy advocates worldwide

Combine with Other Tools

For maximum privacy:

• DNSCrypt: Encrypts DNS queries (automatic on Pimeleon router)
• HTTPS: Encrypts website traffic (use https:// sites)
• VPN: Encrypts all internet traffic (optional)
• Tor: Provides anonymity (when needed)

Each tool protects a different aspect of your privacy.

Understand the Limitations

DNSCrypt is powerful but not magic:

• Protects DNS queries, not web traffic
• Hides lookups, not connections
• Prevents DNS attacks, not all attacks
• One layer of multi-layered security

Related Documentation

• DNS Filtering - Overall DNS architecture
• DNS Filtering and Ad Blocking - Network-wide ad blocking
• Tor Network - Anonymous browsing
• Network Overview - Complete network architecture

Bottom Line: DNSCrypt encrypts your DNS queries automatically, protecting your privacy from ISPs and network snoops. It's fast, secure, and works transparently without any configuration needed from you. Your browsing destinations stay private!