Hotel or Airport WiFi: Which is More Vulnerable to DNS Leaks? (We Tested + Protection Tips)

If you frequently travel for business or leisure, or often use public WiFi in hotels and airports, then you should really read the following content carefully.

I used to think that as long as I didn’t access online banking or log into important accounts, public WiFi wasn’t that scary. That was until I ran a DNS leak test and a browser fingerprint test—the results were quite surprising.

Next, I’ll share why hotel and airport WiFi are the most prone to DNS leaks, and some practical tips on how we can protect ourselves.

1. Why Are Hotel and Airport WiFi Networks So Risky?

Common reasons why hotel and airport WiFi often lead to DNS leaks include:

•  The network is managed centrally by a third party

•  DNS servers are often forcibly assigned

•  There may be transparent proxies or DNS hijacking

•  Large numbers of users and complex network structures

Simply put, while you think you’re visiting a certain website, the DNS query process may already be taking a “detour”—being logged, analyzed, or even tampered with.

2. Detailed Explanation of Real Test Scenarios

To closely match real-world usage, three environments were selected for testing:

•  A chain hotel’s WiFi

•  Free WiFi in an airport waiting area

•  Home broadband (as a control group)

The main testing tools used were:

•  Online DNS leak testing pages

•  ToDetect Fingerprint Query Tool (for browser fingerprint detection)

•  Different browsers (Chrome / Edge)

•  Comparison tests with and without protection enabled

3. DNS Leak Test Results in Major Public Places 

As the table clearly shows, in public WiFi environments such as hotels and airports, DNS resolution paths are significantly more complex and DNS servers are less stable. The likelihood of DNS requests being taken over or logged by third parties is much higher. In contrast, home broadband connections have clear resolution paths and stable DNS addresses, with virtually no obvious DNS leak issues.

4. An Overlooked Risk: Browser Fingerprinting

Beyond DNS leaks, there is another more hidden issue—browser fingerprinting.

When running browser fingerprint tests with the ToDetect Fingerprint Query Tool across different network environments, you’ll find that:

•  Even without logging into an account, users can be highly identifiable

•  Fingerprint data can be even more stable on public WiFi

•  Screen resolution, fonts, timezone, and WebGL data are all recorded

In other words, even if you haven’t logged into any platform, your browser fingerprint is already “introducing you.”

5. DNS Leaks + Browser Fingerprints = Double Exposure

Many people focus only on IP addresses, but this is a misconception. In public networks, what’s truly exposed is:

•  DNS query records

•  Browser fingerprint characteristics

•  Browsing behavior patterns

When combined, these can essentially reconstruct a “complete version of you.”

6. Proven Effective DNS Leak Protection Strategies

✔ Use trusted DNS or encrypted DNS to avoid being forced to use unknown DNS servers.

✔ Review browser privacy settings: disable unnecessary interfaces to reduce fingerprint exposure.

✔ Perform DNS leak tests regularly: don’t test just once—retest whenever the network environment changes.

✔ Use professional tools to check fingerprints: tools like the ToDetect Fingerprint Query Tool can quickly show how much information you’re exposing.

Final Thoughts

DNS leak risks are indeed higher on hotel and airport WiFi. At the same time, it’s clear that focusing only on IP addresses is no longer enough—browser fingerprinting is the most commonly overlooked risk.

The biggest issue with public WiFi isn’t whether you can get online, but rather that if you frequently visit hotels, airports, or cafés, it’s highly recommended to perform a comprehensive DNS leak test.

If you often travel, work remotely, or stay on the move, it’s strongly recommended to develop the habit of regularly using the ToDetect Fingerprint Query Tool for DNS leak testing and to prepare proper DNS leak protection in advance.