Windows 11 users can significantly improve their online privacy by enabling the built-in DNS over HTTPS feature, which encrypts domain name requests to prevent ISP tracking and network hijacking.

Key Points

• DNS over HTTPS (DoH) encrypts domain lookups, preventing internet service providers and third parties from monitoring your browsing destinations.
• Users can enable DoH in Windows 11 via Settings under Network & Internet by configuring manual DNS servers like Cloudflare, Google, or Quad9.
• Enabling system-level DoH secures all network traffic from every application on the PC, rather than just browser-specific requests.
• Disabling the "Fallback to plaintext" toggle is essential to ensure the system does not revert to unencrypted queries if a secure connection fails.
• Configuring both IPv4 and IPv6 settings is necessary to prevent DNS leaks that could expose traffic on modern network connections.

Why it Matters

Enabling system-wide encryption closes a fundamental privacy gap that allows ISPs to log user activity even when visiting secure websites. By securing DNS requests at the operating system level, users protect their data across all installed applications without needing third-party software or individual browser configurations.