Google sister releases Android app to protect against DNS manipulation

Jigsaw, a company that falls under Alphabet and previously went by the name Google Ideas, has released an app that should protect against censorship via DNS manipulation. The Intra-app does this by using encrypted DNS traffic and trusted servers.

In an announcement, Jigsaw writes that the app is intended for countries and regions where DNS manipulation is used as a form of censorship. Users only need to turn on the app to be protected against this, according to the company. The app is free and can now be found in the Play Store.

A minimum of Android 4.0 is required to use the software. One of the developers behind the app tells CNet that the software should work on the vast majority of Android devices. Although the same protection measure is present in Android 9, the app is a way to reach people who do not have this version.

GitHub states that the application uses dns over an encrypted https connection. Users can opt for dns servers from Google itself or from Cloudflare. More options should be added in the future. TechCrunch notes that these parties must therefore be trusted. A Jigsaw spokesperson referenced the privacy policies of both companies in response.

Google Ideas, a think tank within Google, underwent a name change in 2016 and from then on went through life as JigSaw. This part comes under Google parent company Alphabet and is known, among other things, for the anti-ddos initiative Project Shield.