dns11.quad9.net: Quad9’s Invasive DNS Tracker

Quad9’s dns11.quad9.net domain tracks your DNS queries, logging every website you visit for security and analytics purposes. This invasive practice compromises your browsing privacy. Here’s what it does and how to resist.

What Is dns11.quad9.net?

This domain is part of Quad9’s DNS resolution service, designed to resolve website addresses while monitoring queries for security threats. It captures data on your online activity, feeding Quad9’s systems at the cost of your personal privacy.

Data It Collects

When you use Quad9’s DNS, this tracker captures:

• IP Address: Your digital identifier tied to your location.
• DNS Queries: Domains requested, revealing sites visited.
• Browsing History: Inferred from DNS lookup patterns and timestamps.
• Device ID: Unique tag if tied to Quad9 configurations.
• Session Data: Frequency and timing of DNS requests.
• Geolocation: IP-based location tied to DNS queries.
• Query Metadata: Type of request (e.g., A, AAAA) and response codes.
• Browser Type: Inferred from query patterns.
• Operating System: Inferred from device-specific queries.
• Timestamp Data: Exact times of DNS lookups.

This builds a detailed profile of your online behavior, eroding your anonymity.

Who Gets Your Data?

Quad9 shares your information with:

• Quad9 Security Platform: For threat analysis.
• Third-Party Security Company: For malware and phishing detection.
• Quad9 Business Partner: Or affiliate for analytics.
• Cloud Service Provider: For data storage.
• Government Agency: Upon legal request, though transparency details are limited.

How to Protect Yourself

Privacy Auditor offers these defenses:

• Use Alternative DNS: Switch to other privacy-focused DNS providers.
• Enable a VPN: Mask your IP and encrypt DNS with a service like Mullvad.
• Opt for Privacy Browsers: Use Firefox with tracking protection or Tor.
• Configure DNS Encryption: Enable DNS over HTTPS (DoH) or DNS over TLS (DoT).
• Limit DNS Exposure: Use local DNS resolvers when possible.

Layer these tactics to block Quad9’s invasive DNS tracking.

Sources

• Quad9 Privacy Policy: https://www.quad9.net/privacy/

This is a legal disclaimer. All information is provided for educational purposes only.