www.OpenDNS.com FREE
Review of Open DNS: Browsing Speed
After switching to OpenDNS, I noticed that I had a faster Internet. The time taken to resolve URLs was much less
compared to the other DNS service I was already using. Since the time used in resolving URLs is low, you experience
an overall faster Internet.
When you switch to OpenDNS, you need to point your router or computer to the cloud based service. You need not
install any software or additional hardware for using the OpenDNS domain name resolving service. You may need IP
Updater only if you are on dynamic IP and wish to use parental control features (see parental controls below).
OpenDNS says that it has 12 data centers across the globe and claims it has not seen a single downtime since it started
operating. This, it says, is because of the DNS queries dropping to other name servers automatically in case one of
their data center malfunctions.
According to OpenDNS, they scale their service when your bandwidth usage exceeds and thus do not prove to be a
bottleneck when it comes to browsing. If you read our review of SpotFlux, it prevents adware from being
presented on websites so the Internet usage actually decreases. However, the URL resolving time with SpotFlux
was a little more when I compare it to OpenDNS.
It is not wise to compare OpenDNS with SpotFlux but still, for your knowledge, SpotFlux provides anonymous browsing
by changing your actual IP while OpenDNS requires your IP to be registered with it for its parental control program.
You can use SpotFlux if you are more concerned about your privacy plus security and OpenDNS if you want parental
controls in addition to security.
Review Of OpenDNS – Security
OpenDNS employs one of the best anti-phishing solutions known as Phishtank. The Phishtank contains information
about phishing websites. It is a place when users can add and confirm reports of phishing websites. Since Phishtank is
maintained by Internet users, you can expect the data to be the most current and hence, you can trust OpenDNS to
protect you from phishing websites. You can find more information about Phishtank at their website.
OpenDNS employs similar methods to prevent botnets and malware infected sites from contacting you. Since
OpenDNS is responsible for resolving URLs of websites, if it finds any request for a website it knows is infected, it will
block the request thereby protecting you from infections. In other words, it stops malicious domains from resolving
at the DNS level to protect you from infections.
Review Of OpenDNS – Parental Control Program
Here is a drawback if you are using a network that employs Dynamic IP. I call it a drawback because you will have
todownload and install an IP updater software before you can set up your network to use the complete OpenDNS
protection. For static IPs, all you need to do is to add your IP address to your OpenDNS account (Dashboard). In either
case, you can give it a friendly name so that you can identify the network on dashboard and in the IP updating software.
Once you are done adding your network to your OpenDNS dashboard, you can go ahead and set up web filtering.
Here is a look of what I got soon after adding my network to OpenDNS.
Upon selecting the options and/or customizing them, you have to click on Apply to apply the settings to the entire
network. Remember that since it is the Domain Name System your network is using, all devices on that network
will have to abide by the rules of filtering you have just set up.
You can further enhance security by blocking individual sites. The option to block websites is given right below the
above dashboard that allows you set up content filtering.
You can display a custom message to your kids when they encounter a blocked website. Just click
on Customization on the left panel and scroll down a little to reach Block Page. Under this option, you can set up
the page that appears when any user of your network encounters a blocked webpage. You can use this custom page
to educate kids on why you blocked the website.
By default, the data collection (the websites that the users of your network have been visiting) is turned off. It is useful
to turn it on so that you can keep an eye on what all websites your kids are visiting. To turn it on, click on Logs in the
left panel on the OpenDNS dashboard and in the right panel, click to tick the box against Enable Stats and Logs. You
can later view the data by clicking on the Data tab on the top of OpenDNS dashboard.
Overall, this parental control feature of OpenDNS is highly customizable and hence, recommended by me. We talked
about few free parental control programs for Windows some time back. You can use OpenDNS in addition to one of
those programs as it will not interfere with any of them. On a scale of 1 to 5 where 5 is best, this review of OpenDNS
and its parental control programs gives it a rating of 4. If you have been using OpenDNS, I would like to know your
experience. Please use the comment box below to add to the review.
www.Netnanny.com Offers a yearly subsctiption priced from $40 to $100 per year
Product Description
Net Nanny is different from other parental control software because it performs its "categorization" in real-time, as
you surf. This means the content on any given web page is determined as you browse and doesn’t rely on a set list.
This technology ensures all web pages are appropriately categorized to protect web viewers, even when new
content was added just seconds before viewing.
Parents can manage settings, monitor web browsing, and view instant messages from anywhere, at any time. Realtime email alerts advise you when your child is attempting to view an inappropriate website or is participating in a
dangerous or inappropriate online conversation. You decide how often to receive alerts and notifications.
Establish limits and create schedules for the amount of time and/or appropriate times of day each family member
accesses the Internet.
www1.k9webprotection.com/ Free for Home Use
Block web sites in more than 70 categories, including pornography, gambling, drugs, violence/hate/racism, malware/spyware, phishing
Force SafeSearch on all major search engines
Set time restrictions to block web access during designated times
Configure custom lists for "always allow" and "always block"
Override a web page block with password
Trust the enhanced anti-tampering, even children can't break
View easy reports to monitor and control web activity
Real-time categorization of new adult and malicious sites
Best free parental controls software/internet filter available
Compatible with Windows or Mac machines
Offer apps for both Android and IOS
www.covenanteyes.com/ $80 and up per year
Filtering
Both
First person
$8.99/mo.
$4.99/mo.
$10.49/mo.
Each additional person
$2.00/mo.
$1.50/mo.
$3.50/mo.
Accountability
What if you could send a report of your Internet activity to a friend or mentor so you could talk about
where you struggle online? What if you could see the sites your kids visit, the YouTube videos they
watch, and the search terms they use? Internet Accountability is not about catching someone redhanded. It’s not even a Filter, blocking content outright (though we do have a Filter as well).
Instead, Internet Accountability is a report of your Internet activities, designed to start a
conversation, helping everyone in your home make wiser choices about Internet use.
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For parents, it means you can have targeted conversations about the sites your kids visit and the
search terms they use.
For adults, it means the temptation to click on inappropriate and pornographic links is reduced.
Apps for both android and IOS