Intra

Secure DNS encryption for safer uncensored browsing

Intra focuses on a specific but vital layer of online security: your DNS. By encrypting DNS queries and routing them through a trusted resolver, it helps defeat interference that can block sites or reroute you to impostor pages. The result is straightforward access to the addresses you intended to reach, including websites, social platforms, and messaging services that might otherwise be unavailable due to tampering or censorship.

The app is simple to set and forget. Once enabled, it protects traffic from your browser and other online apps, minimizing exposure to DNS-based tricks often used in phishing or malware schemes. You can choose from widely trusted providers, such as Google or Cloudflare, or point the app to a custom DNS server if you prefer full control. Privacy is treated with care, as the app states it does not log which apps you use or which sites you visit.

Intra is open source and developed by Jigsaw, part of Alphabet, which invites community review and contributions. It is designed to keep your connection active while it works in the background and does not impose data caps, so protection does not come at the cost of your regular usage.

There are limits to what it does, and that clarity is welcome. Intra is not a full security suite or a per-app firewall. It cannot show which app made each request, block specific domains for selected apps, or stop particular apps from reaching the network. Some threats fall outside DNS, so it should be one layer in a broader safety toolkit.

Pros:

- Shields against DNS manipulation and redirection

- Restores access to blocked sites and online services

- Lets you select or customize your DNS provider

- Does not track your app usage or browsing history

Cons:

- May not stop all forms of hacking beyond DNS-level attacks

- No visibility into which apps are making requests

- No per-app domain blocking or app-specific controls