Surfshark is expanding its commitment to online privacy by launching a free, public DNS service that refuses to track or log any user activity. With most people relying on DNS servers from their Internet providers, this is a bold step toward offering better privacy tools to everyone—not just VPN users.
The announcement was made by Surfshark’s Leading System Engineer, Karolis Kaciulis, who said the goal is to give people and organizations an easy way to improve privacy, even if they don’t use a VPN.
Surfshark is the first company to offer this type of service for free and yet another reason it is considered Troy’s Top Ranked VPN Provider.
What Is DNS and Why It Matters
DNS stands for Domain Name System. It’s what allows us to type in website names like troypoint.com instead of remembering a string of numbers. Think of it like a contact list for the Internet that matches the site name you want with the correct server IP address behind the scenes.
Most users never change their DNS settings and just go with whatever the ISP assigns. That’s where the problem begins. ISP-provided DNS servers often collect user data, including what sites are visited and when. This info may be sold, logged for marketing purposes, or even used to enforce content blocks. In some cases, ISPs use this data to build detailed profiles on browsing habits.
Why Surfshark DNS Is Different
The new public DNS from Surfshark comes with a strict no-logs policy. This means it won’t store, track, or share your web activity—period. It’s being offered completely free and is available to anyone who wants to use it.
It also supports encrypted protocols like DNS over TLS (DoT), DNS over HTTPS (DoH), and DNS over QUIC (DoQ). These help protect DNS requests from third-party snooping by wrapping them in secure, encrypted tunnels.
Surfshark says that what separates them from existing DNS services is their focus on privacy and security. Kaciulis noted:
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Recognizing this gap, Surfshark decided to offer its own public DNS servers…We wanted to match our mission of creating safer and more private Internet connections.
How This Helps Users
Here are a few ways Surfshark’s DNS service stands out:
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Better Privacy: No tracking, no profiling, and no logs.
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Improved Speed: Third-party DNS servers like Surfshark’s are often faster and more stable than overloaded ISP servers.
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Censorship Bypass: It can help get around DNS-level blocks, which some ISPs use to limit access to certain sites.
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Free to Use: There’s no cost, and no Surfshark subscription is required.
Kaciulis did mention, however, that using the DNS service alongside the Surfshark VPN isn’t necessary. If you already have an active VPN account, DNS protection is included.
How to Set Up DNS on Your Device
Follow along on your PC to initiate the Free DNS Server as shown below. If you are using another device, you can find instructions on the official Surfshark website.
Users can enable this on the following devices:
- Windows/PC
- MacOS
- Android
- iOS
- Routers
1. From your Windows Settings, open the Control Panel.
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3. Click Network and Sharing Center.
4. Choose Change adapter settings on the left hand menu.
5. Right click on your connection and choose Properties.
6. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 and open Properties.
7. Input the following and click OK.
- IPv4: 194.169.169.169
- IPv6: 2a09:a707:169
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Your DNS Server has now been enabled. Enjoy!
Final Thoughts
Surfshark is one of the few names in the space that backs up privacy talk with real tools. By offering a free public DNS service with zero logging, they’re giving people one more way to fight back against the growing problem of online tracking. If you’re not already using a private DNS service, this may be a good place to start—especially if you’re not ready to jump into a VPN just yet.
Whether you’re looking to bypass censorship, speed up your connection, or just stop your ISP from watching everything you do online, this new tool is worth a serious look.
TROYPOINT Tip: Always use a VPN to protect your identity when streaming free content from unofficial apps or services.
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