what is a dns leak

A DNS leak is a security flaw that occurs when DNS requests are sent to an ISPs DNS servers even when a VPN is being used to protect users. This means that the user's browsing activity, including their IP address, location, and web searches, goes through the ISP in the same way it would if they were not using a VPN. DNS leaks are a major privacy threat since the anonymity network may be providing a false sense of security while private data is leaking. DNS leaks can be prevented by encrypting DNS requests with DNS over HTTPS or DNS over TLS, using a VPN client which sends DNS requests through the VPN tunnel, or setting up a nonexistent DNS. Firewalls can also be set up to prevent data from leaving the computer, including information involved in DNS requests. DNS leaks can cause computer performance issues and make the internet connection slower, as the computer will be constantly sending out DNS requests. Additionally, a leaking DNS might enable a potential attacker to see which websites the user is visiting and redirect them to malicious websites.