These "Simple Settings" Are the Most Likely to Cause DNS Leaks – Pay Close Attention

To be honest, when many people first get into online privacy, anti-association, and anti-tracking, they tend to focus on whether the “tools are advanced enough” or whether the “nodes are stable,” while overlooking some basic settings that seem insignificant.

Most failure cases are not caused by complex operations, but by very basic settings that may even look “optional” or unimportant.

Today, we’ll specifically talk about those “beginner-level but most common settings that easily lead to DNS leaks,” and how to properly perform DNS leak detection and protection.

I. What Is DNS Leakage ? Why Is It So “Hidden”?

DNS is essentially “who you are asking when you browse the internet.” A DNS leak means that although you intended to let a tool “ask on your behalf,” the request secretly ends up being sent to your local network or ISP.

For example, you may clearly be using an overseas environment, but the DNS requests still expose domestic network information. In the eyes of platforms, this is a clear anomaly.

Many people only realize this after running a DNS leak test: the IP looks fine, but the DNS has already “leaked.”

II. The 5 Most Common “Beginner-Level” DNS Leak Configuration Mistakes

1. Using the System Default DNS Directly

This is the most common pitfall. Whether on Windows or macOS, the default DNS is usually:

•  ISP-provided DNS

•  DNS automatically assigned by the router

What does this mean?

It means that the DNS requests for the websites you visit are very likely still going through the local network.

Even if everything else is configured correctly, failing to change this setting still results in a high risk of DNS leaks.

2. Browser Settings Are Correct, but the System Level Is Not Controlled

Many people only focus on browser-level tweaks:

•  Installing extensions

•  Changing proxy settings

•  Using incognito mode

But they overlook one key fact: DNS operates at the system level, not the browser level.

The browser may look “clean,” but the system-level DNS is still leaking information. This is very common during browser fingerprint checks.

3. Ignoring IPv6, Leading to “Silent Leaks”

This is a slightly more advanced pitfall, but many people still fall into it. Many tools only handle IPv4.

Meanwhile, the system often has IPv6 enabled by default. The result: IPv4 goes through the proxy, while IPv6 runs completely exposed.

Once tested on a DNS leak detection page, all IPv6 DNS information is exposed, and the environment immediately becomes untrustworthy.

4. Using Public DNS but in the Wrong Way

Some people hear that “public DNS is more secure” and casually enter:

•  8.8.8.8

•  1.1.1.1

But the problem is: public DNS ≠ no leaks.

If DNS requests are not forced through your current network environment and instead are sent directly in plain text to public DNS servers, they can still be identified as abnormal traffic.

5. No Testing at All, Relying Entirely on “Gut Feeling”

This is the most dangerous scenario. Many people never run DNS leak tests after setting up their environment, relying only on “it seems to work” or “nothing has happened yet.”

However, platform risk control is not a one-time judgment—it is continuous monitoring. Once DNS information becomes inconsistent over time, risk gradually accumulates.

III. The Correct DNS Leak Detection Protection Strategy (Easy for Beginners)

To properly prevent DNS leaks, there are three core principles:

1. DNS must match your current network environment. Wherever your IP is, your DNS should be there as well.

2. System-level settings come before browser-level settings. Secure the system first, then the browser—not the other way around.

3. Always test—never guess. This is the most important step.

IV. DNS Leak Detection and Fingerprint Detection Must Be Done Together

Testing DNS alone is not enough. Platforms now focus more on overall environment consistency, including:

•  Whether DNS matches the environment

•  Whether the IP location is consistent

•  Whether the browser fingerprint is stable

It is recommended that after setting up an environment, you run both:

•  DNS leak detection

•  Browser fingerprint detection

Tools like the ToDetect fingerprint checker can display DNS, IP, WebRTC, time zone, and fingerprint data together, making it easy to spot issues at a glance—perfect for beginners.

Conclusion

DNS leaks may not be noticeable in the short term, but once combined with account trust scores, behavior patterns, and browser fingerprints, the risks will gradually surface.

Make it a habit to run a DNS leak test with the ToDetect fingerprint checker every time you finish setting up an environment, and review it together with browser fingerprint detection to ensure overall consistency.

Remember this one sentence: spending an extra 10 minutes on DNS leak protection early on can help you avoid 90% of potential pitfalls later.