Google Public DNS is a DNS service provided by Google with the aim of helping you to improve your browsing experience. Since Google’s search engine already crawls the web on a daily basis and in the process resolves and caches DNS information, they are able to bring back DNS information much faster than your ISP. Here’s how you can configure your computer to use Google Public DNS and enjoy the speed boost.

Configuring your computer to use Google Public DNS

In Windows Vista/7 Go to Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Center. Click on the active network connection link.

Click on the Properties button.

In the Network tab, highlight the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) field and click on the Properties button.

Enter the following in the DNS field:

Save the setting and close all windows. Restart the Internet connection. You should be connect via the Google public DNS now. In Linux (Ubuntu) The following instructions are tested on Ubuntu. It should work on any other distro that are using the Network Manager. Go to System -> Preferences -> Network Connections. Go to the Wired tab (or the Wireless tab if you are using wireless connection). Highlight the active connection and click “Edit”

Go to the IPv4 Settings tab. Under the Method dropdown field, select Automatic (DHCP) addresses only. Enter 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4 (separated by a space) in the DNS Servers field.

Click OK to save. Your Internet connection will automatically restart itself. In Mac Snow Leopard Go to System Preferences -> Network. Select your active connection and click on the Advanced button.

Go to the DNS tab. At the left pane (DNS Servers), click on the “+” button. Enter “8.8.8.8” into the field. Add another entry with “8.8.4.4” in the field.

Click OK. That’s it. For troubleshooting and more in depth information, check out the Google Public DNS site for configuration instructions. Source Image credit: dhmann