My work laptop uses company DNS even when I'm not at work

Question

My company gave me a laptop for work and I've noticed that it is using my company's DNS servers even when I'm at home and not on a VPN. I noticed this because I typed a search term in Firefox, which usually does a Google I'm feeling lucky search when there is no DNS result. I also see weird requests going out in Wireshark. I could provide more info if necessary. The IP settings are set to obtain a DNS server automatically. Where could it be picking up this setting?

Answer 1

It is possible your laptop is caching previous dns results. Depending upon which OS you have you might try other things, but in Windows

at a command prompt type: ipconfig /displaydns (LAN local connection status DETAILS will show you this also) to see where the dns records are coming from.

Possibly try: ipconfig /flushdns to force a new dns lookup when you are at home using that dns provider

Figuring out what is being used for dns resolution will get you closer to fixing it. Thus John T is right to ask what dns address is being used first.

If your network device TCP/IPv4 properties is is set to obtain DNS server address automatically, you can always add your companies preferred dns server but also include others such as google 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4 or opendns 208.67.220.220 & 208.67.222.222

Answer 2

The network configuration allows a fixed DNS to be set. Check Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Network Connections. Right click on your network interface and click properties. This will require an administrator password. The configuration will be in the properties for Internet Protocol Version 4.