Mozilla has updated its virtual private network (VPN) service with support for custom Domain Name System (DNS) servers and multi-hop connections involving several VPN servers.
DNS servers are essentially used to convert a human-readable domain name such as “www.pcmag.com” to an IP address dedicated to the site. Many ISPs offer their own DNS servers, but using a custom server can offer improved performance, better privacy, and the ability to block access to specific content on a network level instead of within the browser.
Mozilla VPN already offered custom DNS servers that allowed users to block ads, tracking technologies, or both. Now the service will allow users to set up custom DNS servers using alternative solutions—with some popular examples being Cloudflare DNS, Pi-hole, and AdGuard Home—so they can have more control over their browsing experience while using the VPN.
Mozilla also updated its VPN service with support for multi-hop connections that allow users to select one server for the initial connection (the entry server) and one server for the secondary connection (the exit server) rather than relying on just one VPN server. This is supposed to help keep connections more secure by limiting the amount of data available to each VPN server.
“This new powerful privacy feature appeals to those who think twice about their privacy,” Mozilla says, “like political activists, journalists writing sensitive topics, or anyone who’s using a public wi-fi and wants that added peace of mind by doubling-up their VPN servers.” But the feature isn’t enabled by default, likely because it could lead to slower performance.
