How to Bypass Government-Level DNS Blocks

Understanding DNS Blocks

Picture the government as a nosy neighbour who keeps peering over your fence, deciding what you can and can’t see on the internet. DNS (Domain Name System) blocks are their tool of choice: when you type in a web address, your computer asks a DNS server for the actual IP address. If the DNS server is told to fib about certain addresses—well, you’re out of luck, mate. That’s where we get creative.

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Common Methods to Bypass DNS Blocking

1. Change Your DNS Resolver

First cab off the rank: just don’t use the government’s DNS servers. Switch to a third-party DNS resolver, and you’re already dodging the first punch.

Popular DNS Providers

Provider	Primary DNS	Secondary DNS	Supports DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH)?
Google Public	8.8.8.8	8.8.4.4	Yes
Cloudflare	1.1.1.1	1.0.0.1	Yes
OpenDNS	208.67.222.222	208.67.220.220	Yes
Quad9	9.9.9.9	149.112.112.112	Yes

Changing DNS on Windows

1. Open Control Panel ➜ Network and Internet ➜ Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click Change adapter settings.
3. Right-click your connection, select Properties.
4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) ➜ Properties.
5. Use the following DNS server addresses:
6. Preferred: 1.1.1.1
7. Alternate: 8.8.8.8

macOS

# System Preferences > Network > Advanced > DNS
# Add: 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8

2. Use Encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT)

Governments sometimes use DNS interception. Enter DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT)—these encrypt your queries, making them look like regular HTTPS traffic.

Firefox Example (DNS-over-HTTPS)

1. Go to Preferences.
2. Search for “DNS”.
3. Under Network Settings, click Settings.
4. Scroll down to Enable DNS over HTTPS.
5. Choose a provider (Cloudflare or custom).

Command Line with cloudflared (DoH Proxy)

# Install cloudflared (https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/connections/connect-apps/install-and-setup/installation/)
cloudflared proxy-dns
# Now set your system DNS to 127.0.0.1

3. Edit Your Hosts File

If only a handful of sites are blocked, you can take the old-school route and manually add IPs to your hosts file. This tells your computer to skip DNS altogether.

Windows

1. Open Notepad as Administrator.
2. Open C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.
3. Add:
   104.21.25.144 example.com
   (Replace IP and domain as needed. Get the IP with ping or an online DNS lookup tool.)

macOS/Linux

sudo nano /etc/hosts
# Add: 104.21.25.144 example.com

4. Use Public Proxy Servers

Now, mate, if they’re blocking at the DNS and IP level, you’ll need to funnel your traffic through a detour—proxies. Public proxies route your requests, making it seem you’re somewhere else.

Finding Proxies with ProxyRoller

Head to ProxyRoller for a smorgasbord of fresh, free proxies—HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, SOCKS5, the whole lot. Just don’t expect five-star service from free proxies; they’re the backpacker hostels of the internet.

Configuring Proxy in Windows

1. Settings ➜ Network & Internet ➜ Proxy.
2. Turn on Manual proxy setup.
3. Enter the IP and port from ProxyRoller.

Browser Extension Example (FoxyProxy)

1. Install FoxyProxy on Firefox or Chrome.
2. Add a new proxy using IP and port from ProxyRoller.
3. Choose which sites to send through the proxy.

5. Deploy a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

If you want the Rolls Royce of bypassing, a VPN is the way. Your traffic is encrypted and sent through a remote server. These are hard to block unless the government is going all North Korea.

Bypass Method	Efficacy	Difficulty	Stealth	Example Services
Third-party DNS	Medium	Easy	Low	Google, Cloudflare
Encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT)	High	Medium	High	NextDNS, Cloudflare
Hosts File	Low	Easy	Low	Manual
Public Proxy	Medium	Medium	Medium	ProxyRoller
VPN	Very High	Easy	Very High	Mullvad, ProtonVPN, NordVPN

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Advanced: Tunneling DNS with DNSCrypt

For the tinkerers, DNSCrypt wraps your DNS traffic up like a meat pie—secure and tasty.

1. Download DNSCrypt-Proxy.
2. Unpack and edit dnscrypt-proxy.toml to select a resolver.
3. Start the service:
   bash
./dnscrypt-proxy
4. Point your system DNS to 127.0.0.1.

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Troubleshooting and Tips

• If proxies from ProxyRoller are slow, try another—there’s plenty in the esky.
• Some ISPs perform SNI-based blocking; in this case, encrypted SNI (ESNI) or a VPN is your best mate.
• For persistent blocks, combine methods: Encrypted DNS + Proxy + VPN.

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Handy Resources

• Cloudflare DNS
• Google Public DNS
• ProxyRoller Free Proxies
• FoxyProxy Browser Extension
• DNSCrypt Project
• cloudflared DoH Proxy

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If you’re ever stuck behind a wall, just remember: where there’s a bloke with a laptop and a bit of Aussie ingenuity, there’s a way to get through. Keep it legal, keep it ethical, and don’t forget to check your local laws before you go bush-bashing your way past blocks.