Every time you visit a website like tech2geek.net, your DNS resolver converts the domain into an IP address, enabling your browser to locate the website. Unfortunately, this task typically falls into the hands of tech giants like Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), who can then access and analyze your browsing behavior. Enter DNS4EU, Europe’s innovative response designed to safeguard your digital privacy, launched officially in June 2025.

Infographic: DNS4EU

What is DNS4EU?

DNS4EU, co-funded by the European Union and supervised by ENISA (European Union Agency for Cybersecurity), is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing Europe’s digital sovereignty by providing a secure and private DNS resolver within the continent. This service ensures that DNS requests stay within European borders, significantly reducing dependency on non-European tech giants.

Multiple DNS Resolver Options Tailored to Your Needs

DNS4EU stands out by offering five different DNS resolver options:

  1. Basic Protection (IP: 86.54.11.1): Utilizes real-time AI to automatically block malicious sites.
  2. Protection + Parental Control (IP: 86.54.11.12): Filters out violent, drug-related, and inappropriate content for families.
  3. Protection + Ad Blocking (IP: 86.54.11.13): Keeps your browsing ad-free.
  4. Complete Protection (Parental + Ad Blocking) (IP: 86.54.11.11): Combines all available protective features.
  5. Unfiltered (IP: 86.54.11.100): Standard DNS resolution without additional filtering.

All resolvers fully support IPv6, DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH), and DNS-over-TLS (DoT) protocols, ensuring your requests remain encrypted and private.

Uncompromising Privacy and GDPR Compliance

Privacy is at the core of DNS4EU’s mission. Unlike Google, which retains logs for 24-48 hours, and Cloudflare’s 25-hour retention, DNS4EU ensures complete anonymity from the outset. Your IP address is anonymized immediately, with no personal data collected, aligning fully with Europe’s stringent GDPR regulations.

Robust Infrastructure and Performance

DNS4EU servers are designed to efficiently handle over one million DNS queries per second, strategically distributed throughout Europe—from Spain to Poland—for optimized performance and reliability. Preliminary latency tests from France report a responsive 20-40ms, comparable to leading global providers.

Easy Setup Across Devices

Configuring DNS4EU on your device is straightforward:

  • Windows: Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Adapter Settings.
  • macOS: Navigate to System Preferences > Network > Advanced > DNS.
  • Routers: Typically accessible through DHCP or DNS settings in your router’s admin interface.

Important Usage Considerations

DNS4EU imposes a reasonable cap of 1000 queries per second per IP address, suitable for everyday browsing and typical workloads. However, intensive server or scraping activities should consider this limitation.

Limitations and Future Prospects

While optimized for European users, DNS4EU’s performance may be less effective globally compared to Cloudflare’s extensive international network. As a newly launched service, it awaits broader user feedback regarding long-term reliability. Additionally, the project’s plan to become self-funded after 2025 might influence its free service model.

Advanced Security Powered by AI

DNS4EU incorporates real-time AI threat detection, enhanced by automatic intelligence sharing among European countries. This collaborative approach ensures a threat identified in one country is rapidly mitigated across the continent, thanks to continuous updates from national CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) teams.

Managed by European Experts

The DNS4EU consortium is led by Whalebone, a respected Czech cybersecurity company familiar with European privacy regulations and data protection nuances, guaranteeing both expertise and regulatory compliance.

Conclusion:

While changing your DNS settings might seem minor, adopting DNS4EU represents a significant step toward digital sovereignty, privacy, and independence from US-based tech giants. With robust security features and transparent privacy policies, DNS4EU is set to become a cornerstone of Europe’s digital infrastructure.

Ready to experience privacy-focused DNS browsing? Say goodbye to external dependence and hello to Europe’s DNS4EU.

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