Is it worth using DNS together with a VPN, or is just a VPN enough for privacy, bypassing restrictions in countries, security, and reliability? I use Proton VPN with Netshield, Wireguard, and enabled IPV6, but I have never configured DNS. On my PC on Fedora Linux KDE, I use the Brave browser with Ublock Origin, Brave Shields, and Proton VPN with Netshield enabled. On my phone on GrapheneOS, I use Vanadium and Proton VPN with Netshield.
It’s generally considered better to use the VPN’s own DNS server as to avoid standing out from other users of the same VPN.
The one major exception to this is using DoH (DNS over HTTPS), which is required for ECH (Encrypted Client Hello). ECH can prevent your ISP / VPN provider from seeing what domains you visit (i.e. only being able to see the site’s IP); however, sites need to support it. Since ECH is still very uncommon in the real world, it’s probably not worth using a VPN + DoH yet.
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Do you use VPN or DNS? Why?
If VPN, then which one? Very curious.
I use DoH whenever I’m not connected to a VPN but otherwise I use the VPNs DNS.
As for which VPN I use both Mullvad and ProtonVPN.
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Do you use Mullvad VPN for maximum privacy? It’s just unusual that you use two VPNs. And why do you sometimes use DNS separately? Are there situations where you don’t need a VPN?
I prefer Mullvad for it’s speeds and features like DAITA. I occasionally use ProtonVPN because I have it and it’s more reliable if you often visit websites that like to block VPNs.
I essentially always use a VPN, especially on my GrapheneOS devices which always have ‘block connections without VPN’ enabled.
DoH on the network level is something I have mostly for other users/devices which aren’t connected to a VPN.
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