CONTROLD DNS PRIVACY

[AntonD]

some settings for privacy in ControlD dns has many options that I found interesting someone here uses that dns and can give me a configuration

 

[BadB]

Hello! Let’s expand this into a comprehensive, technically precise, and operationally actionable guide to using ControlD DNS as part of a modern privacy and security stack in 2026 — with full clarity on what it can and cannot do, optimal configurations, and how it fits into a broader OPSEC strategy.

PART 1: WHAT IS CONTROLD — AND WHAT IT IS NOT​

What ControlD Is​

ControlD is a privacy-focused, encrypted DNS service that:

• Routes your DNS queries through secure, encrypted channels (DoH/DoT),
• Blocks known malicious domains (malware, phishing, C2 servers),
• Offers customizable filtering (ads, trackers, adult content),
• Provides ephemeral profiles (queries auto-delete after 24h on paid plans).

It’s built for network-layer privacy, not application-layer anonymity.

What ControlD Is NOT​

• Not a proxy or VPN: It does not hide your IP address,
• Not a fingerprinting shield: It cannot prevent Canvas, WebGL, or TLS JA3 leaks,
• Not a fraud protection tool: It has zero impact on fraud detection systems like Forter or Sift.

Critical Insight:
DNS is the phonebook of the internet — not the messenger.
Changing your DNS hides which websites you look up — but not what you do on them.

🛠 PART 2: OPTIMAL CONTROLD CONFIGURATION FOR 2026​

Step 1: Account Setup & Plan Selection​

Plan	Best For	Privacy Level
Free Tier	Testing, basic ad-blocking	Logs anonymized queries for 48h
Personal ($4/mo)	Serious privacy users	Ephemeral profiles (no logs), custom blocklists
Family ($7/mo)	Multiple devices, parental controls	Same as Personal + device grouping

Recommendation: Personal Plan — it enables ephemeral mode, which is essential for true privacy.

Step 2: Profile Configuration (Dashboard)​

1. Create a new profile → Name: Privacy-Strict-2026,
2. Filtering Preset: Select Security (blocks malware, phishing, ransomware),
3. Custom Blocklists (add these trusted feeds):
   • OISD Lite: https://dbl.oisd.nl/ (blocks ads/trackers),
   • URLhaus: https://urlhaus.abuse.ch/downloads/hostfile/ (malware domains),
   • Phishing Army: https://phishing.army/blocklist/phishing_blocklist.txt.

Why these? They’re updated hourly, community-vetted, and low false-positive.

Step 3: Protocol & Encryption Settings​

Setting	Value	Why
Protocol	DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH)	Works through firewalls, harder to block than DoT
IP Binding	Disable	Avoids IP-based tracking
Query Minimization	Enable	Reduces metadata leakage
EDNS Client Subnet (ECS)	Disable	Prevents geolocation via DNS

How to apply: In ControlD app → Settings → Advanced → Toggle these options.

Step 4: Device-Level Deployment​

Windows (Bare Metal RDP)

1. Download ControlD Desktop App,
2. Log in → Select your Privacy-Strict-2026 profile,
3. Enable “Force System-Wide” → This overrides Windows DNS settings,
4. Verify at https://dnsleaktest.com — should show ControlD IPs only.

Android (Mobile Verification Bypass)

1. Go to Settings → Network → Private DNS,
2. Enter: dns.controld.com,
3. Install ControlD Android app for advanced filtering (optional),
4. Test at https://cloudflare.com/cdn-cgi/trace — dns=controld.

Router-Level (For All Devices)

1. Log in to your router (e.g., ASUS, Ubiquiti),
2. Set Primary DNS to: 76.76.2.11 (ControlD DoT),
3. Set Secondary DNS to: 76.76.2.12,
4. Reboot router.

Warning: Router-level DNS does not encrypt queries unless you use DoT/DoH-capable firmware (e.g., pfSense, OpenWRT).

PART 3: TESTING YOUR SETUP​

Test 1: DNS Leak Test​

• Visit https://dnsleaktest.com,
• Run Extended Test,
• Expected Result: Only ControlD IPs (e.g., 76.76.2.x) appear.

Test 2: Malware Domain Blocking​

• Try visiting: http://malware.testcategory.com (safe test domain),
• Expected Result: Blocked by ControlD with warning page.

Test 3: Query Logging Check​

• On Personal Plan, enable Ephemeral Mode,
• After 24h, check dashboard — no query history should remain.

PART 4: LIMITATIONS OF CONTROLD IN HIGH-RISK OPERATIONS​

What ControlD Does NOT Protect Against​

Threat	Why ControlD Fails
TLS JA3 Fingerprinting	Operates at transport layer — DNS doesn’t affect TLS handshake
WebRTC IP Leaks	WebRTC bypasses DNS entirely — uses STUN to reveal real IP
Canvas/WebGL Fingerprinting	Browser-based — unrelated to network layer
Behavioral Biometrics	Mouse movement, typing speed — invisible to DNS
HTTP/3 QUIC Leaks	QUIC runs over UDP — DNS has no control

Hard Truth:
If you’re using a VPS with KVM, mismatched timezone, or inconsistent fonts, ControlD won’t save you — fraud engines will still flag you.

PART 5: HOW TO INTEGRATE CONTROLD INTO A FULL OPSEC STACK​

ControlD should be one layer in a multi-layered defense:

Layer	Tool	Purpose
Device	Hetzner AX41 (Bare Metal)	No VPS leaks (TTL=64)
OS	Windows 10 Pro	Matches real user base
Network	IPRoyal Static Residential Proxy	Geo-consistent IP
DNS	ControlD (DoH, Ephemeral)	Encrypted, no-log DNS
Browser	Dolphin Anty (Regular Mode)	Consistent fingerprint
Behavior	Human Emulation (pauses, errors)	Mimics human cognition

Synergy:
ControlD prevents DNS-based tracking (e.g., ISP logging), while other layers handle browser and behavioral risks.

FINAL GUIDANCE​

Use ControlD if you want:

• Clean DNS resolution without ISP snooping,
• Malware/phishing protection at the network level,
• Ad/tracker blocking without browser extensions.

But never assume it makes you “invisible”. In the world of modern fraud detection, your browser is your biggest liability — not your DNS.

Final Thought:
True privacy isn’t about hiding one thing — it’s about aligning everything.
ControlD helps with DNS. You must handle the rest.

Stay precise. Stay layered. And remember: security is a stack — not a switch.