Tag Archives: VPN

2025, DNS, Surfshark

What is DNS? The Hidden Hero Behind Every Click

Leave a comment

When you open your browser and type in a web address like www.thegadgetman.org.uk, how does your computer know where to go? That’s where DNS – the Domain Name System – comes into play. It’s one of the hidden heroes of the internet, and understanding it can help you browse smarter and more securely.

What is DNS?

In simple terms, DNS translates human-friendly domain names into machine-friendly IP addresses. Think of it as the internet’s phone book. Instead of remembering a string of numbers like 172.217.169.206, you just remember a name – like google.com – and DNS handles the rest.

Every website, email server, and online service has an IP address. DNS ensures you don’t have to memorise any of them.

How Does DNS Work?

Here’s what happens behind the scenes when you visit a website:

  1. Your browser checks its cache to see if it already knows the IP address.

  2. If not, it asks your operating system, which checks its own cache.

  3. If still no luck, it asks the DNS server provided by your internet service provider (ISP).

  4. If the ISP’s server doesn’t know, it asks a chain of other DNS servers – starting from the root, to TLD (.com, .uk), and finally to the domain’s authoritative server.

  5. Once the IP address is found, it’s returned to your browser, and the connection is made.

All this typically takes milliseconds – faster than blinking.

Why Should You Care About DNS?

Most people never think about DNS, but it plays a vital role in your online experience. Here’s why it matters:

  • Speed: A faster DNS can mean faster browsing, especially when accessing new websites.

  • Privacy: Many DNS providers log your queries. That means they know every website you visit.

  • Security: Some DNS services help block malicious websites or phishing attempts.

Surfshark’s DNS: Private and Free

Surfshark, known for its VPN services, offers a free public DNS designed with privacy in mind. Unlike many default ISP DNS services, Surfshark’s DNS doesn’t log or track your online activity.

Key Benefits of Surfshark DNS:

  • No logs or tracking – Your DNS requests aren’t saved, sold, or snooped on.

  • Improved privacy and anonymity – Especially useful when combined with a VPN.

  • Free to use – No hidden costs or annoying ads.

  • Reliable infrastructure – Globally distributed servers for stable, fast resolution.

How to Change Your DNS

Switching to a privacy-focused DNS like Surfshark’s is easy:

  • On Windows or macOS, you can change DNS settings via your network preferences.

  • Routers often allow DNS changes at the network level, covering all your connected devices.

  • Surfshark also offers setup guides for specific devices and platforms.

Final Thoughts

DNS is like the backstage crew of the internet – you rarely see it, but it keeps the show running. Understanding how DNS works gives you more control over your online experience. And by switching to a privacy-first service like Surfshark DNS, you can enhance your digital safety without spending a penny.

If you’re serious about your gadgets, online privacy, and speed, don’t overlook your DNS.

Helpful Articles, Helpful Guides, Tech Tips, Technology, Useful Articles

Top Tips for Travelling with Tech

Leave a comment

No matter where you go you will always see other people using all modes of technology. You’ll even be using it yourself to board your plane, book your accommodation, even pay your bills while you’re away with stored credit card details. You are likely going to bring your phone with you, your tablet, and the chances are high that you’re going to bring a high-tech camera wherever you go. While it’s a nice idea that you can go on holiday and leave your technology at home, it’s not always practical.

Top Tips for Travelling with Tech
Top Tips for Travelling with Tech

The thing is, if you are travelling with technology, you need to make sure that you can keep it safe. It’s always useful to have technology on hand if you’re in a new place. Using a mapbox matrix API to be able to plan your day-to-day route when you’re travelling around a new place is helpful, but if your phone gets stolen what are you supposed to do? Electronic devices can be very useful, but you have to charge them and keep them with you at all times so that you can travel safely. Here are some of the things that you need to know about travelling with technology.

  • You’re going to need mobile phone signals and Internet access. There is no use in carrying your technology with you if you can’t connect to anything. If you’re using digital cameras to video your holiday, you want to be able to plug it into your laptop and send your videos or blogs over the airwaves. There’s no point in bringing electronic devices if you can’t connect to the Internet, so prepare for using your mobile phone abroad, your tablet and your laptop on your trip and research connectivity before you go.
  • Check your Internet security. If you’re bringing your technology into foreign places that have a Wi-Fi connection, you’re putting yourself at risk. You should never use a public Wi-Fi if you want to keep the information on your phone, your tablet, your laptop and even your camera safe. Public Wi-Fi does not protect you from being hacked, and anybody nearby with the appropriate equipment can log into any of your devices and steal your information. The best thing you can do here is to set up a trip-only email address to use while you travel, and arm yourself with a VPN.
  • Plan ahead for airport security. No matter what technology you are travelling with, you will have to take it out of your bag and scan it through security so that the airline can see what’s going on before you get on the plane. Security screeners have to examine your computer to make sure that there’s nothing on it that’s dangerous. Take everything out of the cases and make sure that you can grab them swiftly from your bags and leave them out onto the security belt.
  • Don’t forget to insure it. Insurance is important if you’re bringing technology with you on holiday. If it gets stolen or lost, you want to be able to claim on said insurance. Standard travel insurance and device cover should help.

 

Gadget Man, Hide My Ass, Internet Security

The Gadget Man – Episode 71.5 – The state of Internet security with Danvers Baillieu from Hide My Ass

Audio Leave a comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Danvers Baillieu from Hide My Ass
Danvers Baillieu from Hide My Ass

We’re half way through Cyber Security Month and you can’t open a paper or turn on the TV without hearing about the latest high profile data leak. Security Issues are certainly something that we have covered in the past, so today I was delighted to have the opportunity to interview Danvers Baillieu, Chief Operating Officer of Hide My Ass!

Hide My Ass! or HMA are one of the leading firms of companies providing secure VPN connections to the internet and it was great to speak to Danvers to hear his view on current Internet security issues that are seemingly constantly in the news.

In the interview we covered internet security from both a company and personal point of view, how the governments should or shouldn’t involve themselves and what we should be looking out for in the future.

Listen in the stream and let me know what you think of the topics covered.

Thanks to Danvers for taking time out of his day and for Jocelyn from Cow PR for setting up the interview.