I should have mentioned. I did hide it by right clicking & choosing "Hide", but also went to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\*CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer, added New DWORD (32-bit) Value of HideSCAMeetNow & gave it hexidecimal value of 1.
I'll remember that for next time.
So here's what I see if connected via Warp.
Via Tor network.
So Tor Network is using my ISP DNS Server and Warp uses Cloudflare. Also location and ip address differs between the two connections.
Anyway if your VPN uses it's own DNS Server just stick to using that unless you want to connect without a VPN in which case you could consider using WARP instead of your regular connection.
Just for comparison with earlier screenshots. If I exit Warp and connect Via VPN it uses Google DNS. Plus a different location and ip address.
Thank you for all your explanations. I did some experiments, & I’m thoroughly confused.
1. I reinstalled WARP.
2. I set the preferences to block malware.
3. I then turned it on. I noticed that there were 2 options.
When I tried Express VPN, I found it would work with the first option, 1.1.1.1.
4. Then I used the 2nd option: 1.1.1.1 with WARP.
When I tried to use Express VPN, I saw it couldn't connect, so I stopped it. However, WARP gave me a message; but it didn’t connect.
So I exited ExpressVPN & restarted it (without turning it on). WARP was now able to connect.
Sorry for all these questions, but here they are, please:
1. When I use the first option 1.1.1.1, am I getting any protection or advantage over using DNS & hosts file? (A popup says my DNS queries are private & faster.) I am able to use ExpressVPN, but even after I leave e.g. a foreign server, WARP doesn’t work. I have to exit ExpressVPN.
2. What is the difference when I switch to 1.1.1.1 WARP? (A popup says my connection is private, but doesn’t say faster.) But I can’t use ExpressVPN.
3. Under either option, my DNS Client service remains started with the startup type being Automatic (Trigger start). Should I change this to manual?
You should not use WARP and VPN at the same time. Warp only routes DNS queries via Cloudflare when it is active (running and toggled on "on")When I tried Express VPN, I found it would work with the first option, 1.1.1.1.
4. Then I used the 2nd option: 1.1.1.1 with WARP.
When I tried to use Express VPN, I saw it couldn't connect, so I stopped it. However, WARP gave me a message; but it didn’t connect.
So I exited ExpressVPN & restarted it (without turning it on). WARP was now able to connect.
Sorry for all these questions, but here they are, please:
1. When I use the first option 1.1.1.1, am I getting any protection or advantage over using DNS & hosts file? (A popup says my DNS queries are private & faster.) I am able to use ExpressVPN, but even after I leave e.g. a foreign server, WARP doesn’t work. I have to exit ExpressVPN.
2. What is the difference when I switch to 1.1.1.1 WARP? (A popup says my connection is private, but doesn’t say faster.) But I can’t use ExpressVPN.
3. Under either option, my DNS Client service remains started with the startup type being Automatic (Trigger start). Should I change this to manual?
Toggle Warp off and exit when you want to use VPN.
When you use your VPN it very likely uses it's own DNS resolver regardless of any windows settings.
Test. Exit Warp, Warp not running. Connect regular connection then launch VPN then launch a browser and visit:
What's My DNS Server?
What server does it show?
RE: Warp vs DNS & Hosts. Warp stops snooping (prevents) ISPs from spying and selling your data) and blocks connection to sites known to host malware. Your hosts file still works, it's just that Warp offers extra protection.
You could just change DNS in Windows but it's not private and not easy to switch off like it is with Warp. That's personal choice.
RE: DNS Client Service. Just leave it at default (Automatic Trigger Start).
If you're not worried about privacy just change DNS server in Windows to a malware blocking one but be aware that your VPN may not heed that setting.
WARP & Cloudflare off:
Your DNS Server 172.69.32.216
Owner of this server Cloudflare, Inc.
Status of this server Everything is fine
Exit WARP:
Your DNS Server 172.69.32.216
Owner of this server Cloudflare, Inc.
Status of this server Everything is fine
Exit WARP & use ExpressVPN
Your DNS Server 154.16.51.50
Owner of this server Security Firewall Ltd
Status of this server Everything is fine
I should mention that, even before I tried WARP, I had changed my adapter settings to what was recommended at:
Just a moment...
which was to change Internet Protocol Version 4 propeties > Use The Following DNS Server Addresses to:
1.1.1.1
1.0.0.1
and then to change Internet Protocol Version 6 Server Addresses to:
2606:4700:4700::1111
2606:4700:4700::1001
Thank you again for all the advice. The reason I started doing all this is because @Samuria had said that my large hosts file could slow down my internet. That's why I asked about the hosts file & the DNS client.
There's no need to do that. If you use a VPN then thoise settings will be totally ignored as you can tell:
ExpressVPN
Your DNS Server 154.16.51.50
Owner of this server Security Firewall Ltd
So it's not respecting Cloudflare DNS settings and will never do so.
The only time you'd be using Cloudflare DNS is if you exit your VPN and thus switching to a regular connection.
If you use Warp then there is no point in using it at the same time as your VPN is connected. If VPN is disconnected and you use WARP then it uses Cloudflare DNS regardless of whatever DNS you set in windows,
If you're happy with Cloudflare DNS set via windows then use that but be aware that your VPN ignores the setting.
Also have a read:
"what WARP does and doesn’t do" section
Cloudflare's (not) VPN WARP causes confusion - VPN Compare
So if not using your VPN it's better (and should usually be faster) than your regular connection. It will use Cloudflare's DNS resolvers when running without the need to change any DNS settings in windows.
When using a VPN there is no point in connecting via WARP.
Thank you again & sorry for being so dense. I've got the difference between WARP & VPN & that I can use either, but not at the same time (i.e. exit from WARP to use VPN & vice versa). As you've mentioned, WARP may be faster than my regular connection.
Does that mean that there was no need to change my adapter settings when using WARP?
And is there any difference in the 2 options that WARP has in the images I posted above ("1.1.1.1" and "1.1.1.1 with WARP)?
Additional: I found What is the difference between WARP, WARP+, and WARP+ Unlimited? – 1.1.1.1
They say that WARP is 1.1.1.1, but faster. Yet, it's the exact opposite information on their images, as 1.1.1.1 says "Your DNS queries are private & faster" & WARP says "Your internet is private".
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