Best Family Friendly web Content Filter

In an earlier post, I stated that there is no “free lunch” on the internet.  That is a good rule of thumb for the most part, but if you find a source you can trust (MeatMeter.com J ) and you know where to look, there are still a few gems to be unearthed out there.  One of my favorite tools, especially if you have kids with new laptops or other devices that are going to connect to your household network, is OpenDNS.   DNS (Domain Name Service) is the internet’s phone book.  Every computer or website on the web has what is called an IP address (Internet Protocol).  To put it simply, DNS takes the address you typed into your browser,  looks up the DNS entry for the IP address and then serves up that page to you.   

OpenDNS was launched in 2006.  It uses its own “phone book” to block or filter content categories.  Quite simply, it makes adult and objectionable content sites unlisted.  Companies like Burger King, Fuji Film and Century21 use their paid services.

OpenDNS is free for personal use and in July they also launched Family Shield (http://www.opendns.com/familyshield) which is also free and is has a few less bells and whistles when compared to their Basic product.  If you like a bit more control, you might like the Basic product better.  

If you connect directly to your cable modem or DSL modem on one PC, you'll only have to set the DNS setting on that one PC.  If you use a router, you'll set up the DNS setting on your router, and it will protect every PC or device that connects to your network (wired or wireless.)  There are step by step instructions on the site for almost every kind of router on the market.  They also have an easy step by step guide on getting started.  Their knowledgebase is huge as well and very helpful.

Caution: 

Be careful when changing settings on your router.  Make sure you copy down the current settings (the DNS addresses) before you make changes as you can render your internet useless.  Keep the info in case you need to roll back if you have an unsuccessful installation.  All you need to do is google “how do I change the DNS settings on <insert your router make and model number here>.

Most of the time you connect to your router through your browser by typing  192.168.1.1 in your address bar.  If you don’t know your router’s username and password, try the defaults. (find your default here http://www.phenoelit-us.org/dpl/dpl.html).  If you don’t know the router password, you’ll have to reset your router.  To be honest, you should know your router’s password and if you don’t, that’s a good reason for you to reset it.  Consult your router’s manual on how to do this.  Every router I’ve ever set up has an online manual.  Be sure to find it and save it locally should you lose internet use while playing around, and trust me, you probably will. 

Protecting your kids from the dark side of the internet is definitely worth a little inconvenience and wrestling with your router’s settings.  Check out OpenDNS at OpenDNS.com.  Well done OpenDNS, well done.

Gives OpenDNS a "Well Done"