DNS Speed Test

What Is Norton ConnectSafe

Norton ConnectSafe, formerly known as Norton DNS, was a free public DNS service offered by Symantec (now part of Broadcom under the NortonLifeLock brand). The service provided DNS resolution with integrated security filtering to block malicious websites, phishing attempts, and dangerous content at the network level.

Norton ConnectSafe originally launched as Norton DNS in 2010 and was one of the earliest consumer-facing security-focused DNS resolvers. It preceded many of the popular security DNS services available today. At its peak, Norton ConnectSafe served millions of users worldwide who wanted DNS-based protection without installing client software.

Important Note: As of 2026, Norton ConnectSafe has been effectively discontinued by Broadcom. The original server addresses (199.85.126.10, 199.85.127.10) may no longer function reliably. Norton has redirected its focus toward its commercial Norton 360 security suite rather than standalone free DNS services. Users looking for DNS-based security filtering should consider alternatives such as Quad9, Cloudflare 1.1.1.2, or OpenDNS.

Security and Filtering Features

Norton ConnectSafe offered three DNS filtering tiers. The Security tier blocked malware, phishing, and fraudulent sites. The Security + Pornography tier added adult content blocking for family protection. The Security + Pornography + Non-Family Friendly tier provided the most restrictive filtering, blocking a broader range of inappropriate content including gambling, violence, and other non-family-friendly categories.

Each tier had a dedicated set of DNS server addresses, allowing users to choose their filtering level simply by changing which IP addresses they configured. This tiered approach was innovative at the time and influenced the design of later security DNS services like Cloudflare's 1.1.1.2 and 1.1.1.3 variants.

Norton used Symantec's Global Intelligence Network, which tracked threats across millions of endpoints worldwide, to maintain its domain block lists. The threat intelligence included data from Symantec's antivirus and endpoint protection products, giving Norton DNS access to a broad view of the global threat landscape.

Original DNS Server Addresses

The Norton ConnectSafe addresses are listed here for reference. Note that these servers may no longer be operational as Broadcom has moved away from offering free public DNS services.

Security Tier: 199.85.126.10 (primary), 199.85.127.10 (secondary). Blocks malware, phishing, and scam sites.

Security + Pornography Tier: 199.85.126.20 (primary), 199.85.127.20 (secondary). Adds adult content blocking.

Security + Pornography + Non-Family Friendly: 199.85.126.30 (primary), 199.85.127.30 (secondary). Blocks the broadest range of inappropriate content.

Setup Guide

If you still wish to test Norton ConnectSafe, configuration follows the same process as any DNS resolver. Change your DNS settings to one of the address pairs above depending on your desired filtering level. On Windows, go to Network & Internet settings, select your connection, and manually enter the DNS addresses. On macOS, navigate to System Settings, Network, and add the addresses under the DNS tab. On routers, enter the addresses under WAN or Internet DNS settings.

Best Alternatives to Norton DNS

With Norton ConnectSafe being phased out, we recommend these alternatives for DNS-based security filtering. Quad9 (9.9.9.9) provides malware blocking with mandatory DNSSEC validation under Swiss privacy jurisdiction. Cloudflare 1.1.1.2 blocks malware with global anycast speed. OpenDNS (208.67.222.222) offers customizable content filtering with multiple tiers. AdGuard DNS provides ad blocking alongside security filtering with free and paid plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Reading

• DNS Speed Test — Benchmark 17+ Resolvers
• Best DNS for Security
• DNS Providers Comparison

Test Your DNS Speed

Find the fastest DNS resolver for your connection. Our DNS speed test benchmarks 17+ servers in real time.

Run DNS Speed Test