Using Google DSN on your Apple Mac

Google Public DNS is a free, global Domain Name System (DNS) resolution service, that you can use as an alternative to your current DNS provider.

Why do you need a DNS service?

You might not realize it, but you already use a DNS service, typically this is automatically setup for you by your ISP and so you dont have to do anything special to get it working. The DNS service is what allows you to type a named address (such as www.google.com) in your web-browser and get to the website. The DNS service resolves the name to the actual address of the server where the website is located.

So why use Google’s DNS service?

Its provided by Google – good enough for me.

Other reasons:
Google has its DNS servers located all over the globe and they use intelligent algorithms to use the closest one to your computer. This means faster browsing of the web.
Also, Google has a public privacy policy and so you know exactly what they are doing with the data they capture while you use their DNS service. I have no idea how my ISP uses the information it collects while I use their DNS service. (Google stores your IP address for 24 hours, and no other identifying information is stored for longer than that. Read more at http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/faq.html#privacy)

Alternatives: There is OpenDNS (http://www.opendns.com), but that is not Google!

How to use it:

You need to configure your TCP/IP settings to use the following DNS servers: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

Configuring your Mac to use Google DSN.

1. I use a WiFi network to get to the Internet from my Mac. So click on the Wireless icon (2nd from right)
 
2. Select “Open Network Preferences”.

3. Click on AirPort and then “Advanced…”
4. Click on DNS and enter the numbers “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4”

And you are done. Close the dialog and fire up your browser. Browse to your home-page or my web-page (http://raj.aggregatedIntelligence.com/) and if it shows up – you are good to go.