DNS over HTTPS (DoH) on Brave for iOS: A Comprehensive Guide

Many iOS users are searching for ways to enhance their online privacy and security. DNS over HTTPS (DoH) is a powerful technique that can significantly improve your privacy by encrypting your DNS queries. This guide will explain what DoH is, why you should use it, and how to enable it on Brave for iOS.

What is DNS over HTTPS (DoH)?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is like the phone book of the internet. When you type a website address (like www.example.com) into your browser, your device uses DNS to translate that human-readable address into a machine-readable IP address, which allows your browser to connect to the correct server. Traditionally, these DNS queries are sent in plain text, making them vulnerable to eavesdropping and manipulation.

DNS over HTTPS solves this problem by encrypting your DNS queries using HTTPS, the same protocol used for secure websites. This means your internet service provider (ISP) and other potential eavesdroppers can't see which websites you're visiting.

Why Use DoH on Brave for iOS?

• Enhanced Privacy: Prevents your ISP and other third parties from seeing your browsing history.
• Improved Security: Protects against DNS spoofing and other attacks that can redirect you to malicious websites.
• Faster Connections: Some DoH providers offer faster DNS resolution times.
• Censorship Circumvention: In some regions, DoH can help bypass internet censorship.

Enabling DoH in Brave for iOS (Current Limitations)

Unfortunately, as of [Insert Current Date], Brave for iOS doesn't offer a built-in setting to directly enable DoH. Unlike the desktop versions, there's no option within the browser's settings to configure a custom DoH provider. This is a significant limitation for iOS users wanting to benefit from DoH's privacy and security enhancements.

Workarounds and Alternatives

While direct DoH configuration isn't currently available within Brave on iOS, there are some workarounds you can consider:

1. Use a VPN with DoH: Many VPN providers offer DoH as a feature. By connecting to a VPN that supports DoH, your DNS queries will be encrypted, even though Brave itself isn't directly using DoH. This offers a layer of protection, though it introduces the reliance on a third-party VPN service.
2. Use a different browser: Some alternative iOS browsers might offer built-in support for DoH. Research browsers like Firefox or others known for their privacy features to see if they provide this option.
3. Configure DoH at the operating system level (Advanced): This is a more technically involved approach and may require configuring your iOS device's DNS settings manually. This method is generally not recommended for users without technical expertise, as incorrect configuration could negatively impact your internet connectivity.

Future Expectations

It's reasonable to expect Brave to eventually introduce built-in support for DoH on iOS, given the growing importance of privacy and security features in modern browsers. Keep an eye on Brave's release notes and updates for announcements about future features. You can also contact Brave support directly to express your interest in seeing DoH support added to the iOS app.

Conclusion

While enabling DoH directly within Brave on iOS isn't currently possible, users can still achieve enhanced privacy using workarounds like VPNs or exploring other browsers. The absence of this feature highlights the ongoing development landscape of mobile privacy tools. Hopefully, future updates will bring native DoH support to Brave for iOS.