What does the Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 app do and what are the benefits of using something like this?
Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 DNS app is a public DNS server run by the well-recognized web-infrastructure company Cloudflare [1]. The service has access to the addresses of more than 7 million domain names on the same servers it runs on [2]. It also claims to offer immediate updates without having to wait for TTLs to expire [2]. The app also supports IPv6-only networks [3]. When enabled, it automatically encrypts all your unsecured connections [4]. It also bypasses rudimentary ISP-level blocks [5]. One significant development to 1.1.1.1 is the addition of what Cloudflare calls WARP, which is an attempt to enhance the security features of 1.1.1 [5].
Cloudflare's DNS (Domain Name Server) service is available as an app that provides several benefits. It allows you to switch to Cloudflare's DNS resolver with a single tap, and it also offers a few other benefits. There's WARP, a VPN-like feature that automatically encrypts all your unsecured connections. [1] In addition to the main DNS address (1.1.1.1), Cloudflare also has a couple of others that you can use to block malware (1.1.1.2) and adult content (1.1.1.3). [2] The service makes use of several standards, such as DNS Query Name minimization, to improve privacy. It also supports two of the most common DNS security mechanisms, DNS-over-TLS and DNS-over-HTTPS. [3] In terms of performance, as per DNSperf.com, Cloudflare's DNS service led its peers in all but two regions in August 2020. [4] Not only does Cloudflare's DNS service cost you nothing, but the icing on the top is its focus on privacy, which is underscored by annual third-party audits. [5]