Content Filtering with OpenDNS

Since we started having children in the house, I have been on the hunt for good content filtering tools for my home internet connection. One of the tools I really like and wholeheartedly recommend is K9 Web Protection. It is a great tool, and pretty full proof too. However, the main problem with this tool is that it requires that you install it and maintain it on all your computers in the house (or at least the ones the kids will have access to).

What if your kid’s friend brings their laptop over and they hop on your wireless network? Or what if your kids have an internet device like an iPod Touch that connects to your network? What is a parent supposed to do? I think the answer is OpenDNS.

DNS stands for Domain Name System. The internet would not really work without DNS. It is what turns 74.125.45.100 into google.com (or really the other way around). When you type google.com in your browser, your DNS server translates that into 74.125.45.100. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather remember the name over the IP address.

If you have not already specified your DNS servers, then you are probably using whatever your internet service provider wants you to use. If you change your DNS server to the DNS servers of OpenDNS, then you can use them to, among other things, filter out bad content. If you set it up on your router, then your entire network is secured without having to install software on any of the computers that attach to your network.



It is slightly more complicated than K9, but there are good instructions on OpenDNS’s website. If you were smart enough to set up your router, then this should be no problem.

Once you set it up, you can filter out content on your network by category.


The only thing that kinda stinks is that sometimes you might want to block things for your kids, but not for yourself. With K9 you could temporarily unblock a site, not unlike the V-chip on your TV. With OpeenDNS it isn't really practical to login and unblock facebook for an hour so you can use it.

It might be better to use both as part of a total content filtering strategy. In addition, it might not hurt to talk to your kids about the crap that is on the internet. “You see Johnny, there is this site called roemermanonrecord.com and I want you to stay away from it…” well you know what I mean.