Custom DNS
It be great to have the option to set a custom DNS, such as nextDNS, to customise DNS filtering of cookies, and blocking of websites.
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Dpsan commented
Looks like a lot of excitement (myself included) for this. It seems like it could be one of the bigger "game changers" to roll out. Speaking for myself, a Proton user from 2020 onward (full suite except VPN until lately) I was using IVPN + a NextDNS endpoint and with their Wireguard protocol, it worked perfectly. I could see the vast amount of activity in NextDNS Logs which I had enabled for 1 day and Switzerland was the location. No logs is an option, but I decided to trust NextDNS in the same way as I do Proton. There's not another company I ttust more than Proton, and it seems like many of us want either a NextDNS partnership (that takes far too long unless it's in the works) OR, enabled what IVPN has done, OR provide us with the option to use block lists from sources on Github like Hazezi, or OISD, or 1 Host Privacy.
Our devices are SO FAR from private without a method of blocking domains/subdomains on our devices wihtout DNS operating at the device network level. If I open one native macOS app right now I'd see at least 3 domains at a minimum wake up like zombies. Let's be frank, Apple is collecting as much data as Google, Fbook and Amazon. Anyone can see for themselves when they open their Macbook in the morning and head directly to my.nextdns.io and look at the logs and analytics. It's shocking to see all the activity. And, this activity I'm referring to is happening when all apps and background activity is quit/closed. Laptop is shut, all locations services are off, logged out of Apple ID (now Apple Account), no iCloud account and no App Store account.
I realize everyone's "thereat modell" (the industry needs a much better term in the same way the industry tried to stop calling us "users") is different but fast tracking this with your product and engineering teams would give people privacy they don't even know they can have.
As a comparison, I ran a test twice last week. I used IVPN Wireguard protocol with two NextDNS custom endpoints and the URLs had attribution for IVPN as active and the other is in case the connection dropped. By morning, IVPN did not drop the connection (and never has on macOS but iOS is a nightmare for all trustworthy VPN providers) and Apple was phoning home throughout the night and the NextDNS logs showed 100+ queries and I used Hagezi Multi Pro, Easy Privacy and 1 Hosts Pro and they blocked over 25%. Apple deploys so many methods to collect data that it's hard to know what to block and what privacy expert is able to keep up.
Next, I tested Proton VPN with Wireguard protocol and had NetShield enabled. Woke up the next morning, it appeared the connection hadn't dropped and NetShield showed 2 ads and 2 trackers blocked. The following day showed 0 ads blocked and 1 tracker blocked.
There's no way of knowing how many were not blocked that's for sure. It's safe to assume that a similar amount of queries were made since I ensured my entire macOS environment was the same as when I did this with the IVPN setup.
I realize we all use different devices, different OS, and different "threat models" but this is privacy for a better world, and it's also privacy by default which is the Proton way. And, we all love Proton products, otherwise we'd never be in this amazing forum.
Enabling custom DNS, or some version of what many have posted about here is 100% aligned with Proton's approach and values and it's needed for at least the 288 others who voted for this.
Giving us some updates that don't require Twitter or Reddit or shady companies would be wonderful. Perhaps this forum can build in a feed or some other easy to deploy method...?
Thank you Proton for all you're doing. It's far more than any of us know.
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Peter commented
This is an ESSENTIAL feature that most other providers offer. Please, implement this in Q1 2025!!!
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Lucky commented
Please, add it to the 2025 road map!!
Thanks!! -
Coconut commented
This feature is standard with many VPNs these days. It's the main reason I don't use ProtonVPN much and hesitate to recommend it to others. Please add it.
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August commented
I would prefer a Proton DNS which we could set with our own list, like this idea:
https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/7158435-proton-dns-server
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C H commented
Requesting this!
Currently using a workaround via nextDNS to link my current IP, but would love native supporting! Or at, the very least, DoH.
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Luke commented
Another NextDNS user here. Please add the option to use a custom DNS server!
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Anon72817 commented
This is crucial for many users. Netshield is very limited (the blocklist isn’t even publicly available) and we don’t know what exactly is being blocked by it.
Custom DNS is standard for pretty much every VPN. Please add it asap.
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ulagian commented
That is for sure a must to have for the VPN in a very short term. NextDNS is a great tool in order to have control over DNS.
At least on my case I decided to leave NextDNS in favour of support the Proton idea and for sure one of the things that I found after use Proton Unlimited, is that Netshield is not enough.
It will be the ideal to have a much granular control on DNS or if not possible, enable the option of use Custom DNS in order to use your DNS provider, even if that suppose a DNS leak (for sure user should consent it)
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Alex commented
We need it for using with own Adguard Home DNS server, that blocks a lot of spam, trash, ads and trackers
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commented
Would be great to se a collab between proton and NextDNS like was recently announced with standard notes. Theyu need an option to used custom DNS with proton VPN first tho.
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Maurits commented
A separate service where we could choose our lists and settings similar to NextDNS would be perfect.
As second best, custom DNS would do it as well, so we can set up NextDNS ourself. -
Implant commented
This is a critical requirement, or as an alternative, add a management/config panel for Proton's existing DNS for users to be able to add filters in a way of allowlist/blocklist
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hasslemark commented
Find the network settings on your device.
Look for DNS settings.
Replace the existing DNS server addresses with those provided by NextDNS.
Save the changes.
After that, your device will use NextDNS for DNS resolution, allowing you to customize filtering and blocking through the NextDNS dashboard like https://luadist.org/final-fantasy-viii/ -
nika commented
It would be great to create a custom DNS similar to NextDNS with the trustworthiness of Proton. If it's complicated to integrate it with ProtonVPN, the best approach would be to create a separate service where we could choose our lists and settings. This is because the current NetShield is practically ineffective, as we have no control over what is or isn't being blocked.
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Morrie commented
Awesome to see so many people require this, I really need this as well... I would like to move everything to Proton am now also with NextDNS
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V commented
implement support for DoH and DoT as well as IPv6 when it comes to third party DNS provider
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Naxterra commented
It is a must considering Proton's own DNS has no control or management features. I need to use my own DNS server, like NextDNS or ControlD.
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Forged commented
I think this is a duplicate request (kind of!).
Is it possible to merge the requests if so to increase the power of the votes?
https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/932836-proton-vpn/suggestions/42517135-custom-dns -
Forged commented
I think this is a duplicate request (kind of!).
Is it possible to merge the requests if so to increase the power of the votes?
https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/932836-proton-vpn/suggestions/46900552-add-nextdns-integration-to-proton-vpn