Configuring DNS over HTTPS (DoH) on Your Keenetic Router: A Comprehensive Guide

Keenetic routers offer a robust and customizable environment, allowing users to enhance their network security and privacy. One such enhancement is the implementation of DNS over HTTPS (DoH), which encrypts your DNS queries, protecting your browsing activity from potential eavesdroppers on your network or ISP.

This guide provides a detailed walkthrough of configuring DoH on your Keenetic router, covering various scenarios and troubleshooting tips. While Keenetic doesn't directly offer a built-in DoH option in the same way some other routers do, we'll explore several effective methods to achieve the same result.

Method 1: Using a Third-Party DNS Server with DoH Support

The most straightforward approach is to configure your Keenetic router to use a public DNS server that supports DoH. Popular choices include:

• Cloudflare (1.1.1.1): Known for its speed and privacy focus. They offer DoH at https://cloudflare-dns.com/dns-query
• Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8): A widely used and reliable option. Their DoH endpoint is https://dns.google/dns-query
• Quad9 (9.9.9.9): Focuses on security and blocking malicious domains. Their DoH endpoint is https://dns.quad9.net/dns-query

Steps to configure a custom DNS server on your Keenetic router:

1. Access your Keenetic router's web interface (typically by entering 192.168.1.1 or the address printed on your router in your browser).
2. Log in using your router's administrator credentials.
3. Navigate to the network settings section (this varies slightly depending on your Keenetic model and firmware version). Look for options like "Network," "Internet," or "WAN."
4. Find the DNS server settings. You'll likely need to specify the primary and secondary DNS server addresses. Enter the IP address of your chosen DoH provider (e.g., 1.1.1.1 for Cloudflare).
5. Save the changes and restart your router to apply the new settings.

Important Note: While this method uses the chosen DNS server's IP address, the router itself doesn't natively utilize DoH. The encryption happens on the client-side (your devices). The DoH aspect is handled by the DNS server you selected.

Method 2: Using a DNS Client with DoH Support on Your Devices

This method offers more granular control. You configure your individual devices (computers, smartphones, etc.) to use a DoH client. Many operating systems now have built-in support for DoH or offer extensions/apps that provide this functionality.

Advantages: This approach allows you to bypass any potential issues with your Keenetic's configuration or firmware and offers more precise control per device.

Disadvantages: Requires configuring each device individually. This method won't protect devices that can't be configured with DoH (e.g., some IoT devices).

Troubleshooting

If you encounter problems after configuring DoH, consider the following:

• Verify DNS settings: Double-check that the DNS server addresses are correctly entered in your Keenetic's settings.
• Router restart: Restart your Keenetic router to ensure the changes are applied correctly.
• Firewall settings: Make sure your router's firewall isn't blocking the DoH connection. Temporarily disable the firewall to test (remember to re-enable it afterward).
• Check your device's settings: Ensure your devices are using the DNS servers specified on your Keenetic.
• Firmware updates: Ensure your Keenetic's firmware is up-to-date. Newer firmware versions might offer improved compatibility or new features.

By following these instructions and troubleshooting tips, you can effectively configure DNS over HTTPS on your Keenetic router, significantly enhancing your network's security and privacy.