OpenDNS offers an easy, cost-efficient way to prevent access to inappropriate websites, blocks phishing sites, and prevent virus and malware infections. If you want the Internet to be productive and safe, for both you and your family, you can use OpenDNS as a DNS server.
DNS?
The job of a DNS server is to translate human-readable web addresses (like www.apply.no) into a computer-readable number also known as an IP address (46.250.221.22). So when you type in www.apply.no in your browser, your PC will ask a DNS server for IP and then open the website the DNS is pointing at.
DNS is an integral part of the Internet and all routers are set up with an address to one or more DNS servers. Typically, this will be one assigned automatically from your ISP.
Why change to OpenDNS?
First and maybe important for many is that there is no software to install, its easy to set up and the price is OK – 0.
OpenDNS is a blazing fast service that can in addition to be a DNS server also block access to inappropriate websites, phishing sites, and prevent viruses and malware infections. This is good from a security perspective and will block access to such sites on any device connected to your network.
OK, I am convinced, how do I set it up?
Open any browser and navigate to https://www.opendns.com/home-internet-security/
There are 4 options, and in this case, I have selected the option OpenDNS Home.
Create an account by clicking the Sign-up button.
When done, log on to OpenDNS control panel https://login.opendns.com/
You will be asked to add a Network. Click Add a network button.
The IP will be filled in automatically and will be your public IP. If it is not you can find this by navigating to https://www.whatismyip.com/ . The website will show your public IP
Type that into the Add Network registration dialog at OpenDNS. Click Add this Network button.
Give the network a name and download and install the OpenDNS Updater for Windows link. This will install a small utility on your PC that will update OpenDNS if your public IP is changed. That can happen if you turn of the router and leave it off for a period (vacation).
Time to change DNS in your Router
Now you are ready to change DNS in your router. You need to log onto the routers control panel to do this. It is outside the scope of this document to explain how since there are so many different types and models. What most routers have in common is that they can be accessed from a browser from a PC INSIDE your network.
Open a command prompt by clicking on Start button in lower-left corner and type CMD and hit Enter button. In the command prompt type in the command ipconfig and hit Enter button.
In my case, I see that my Gateway IP is 192.168.38.1. That is my router and where I need to change DNS:
Open your browser (Chrome or IE) and type in the IP to your Gateway.
You should now be able to see a login dialog and must log on to your router as administrator (a tip is to look under your router for a label with this info or you can simply search the web for the default username and password for your router model. If you have changed it then you probably know both the username and password. If you don’t have a clue, then it's quick to do a factory reset and then log on as an administrator using the default login details.
OpenDNS DNS IP addresses
The OpenDNS nameservers are 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220.
Where to add DNS is of course different from router to the router but in general, you will find this in a section Network, LAN and DHCP. DHCP is the service that issues an IP address to each device you connect to your Wi-Fi/Network. In addition, it will tell the device where to send DNS queries. In the picture below I have added 208.67.222.222 as the primary DNS server and 208.67.220.220 as secondary.
Next time you log on to your PC it will now have the 2 new DNS servers in its IP configuration. Open Command Prompt and type ipconfig /all and hit Enter button. You will get a detailed view of your IP config.
So far, so good.
Next is to set up how you want web content filtered.
Open OpenDNS control panel and go to Settings. Click Web Content Filtering
Here you can select what filtering level you want. You can also add individual domains to the list. When done you check the Apply to all networks and click Apply button.
That’s it and your network is now protected according to the level you selected.
So, what will happen if I try to open a website that is to be considered as inappropriate?
If it is a website tagged in OpenDNS as a site that belongs to one of the categories you selected in content filtering, you will meet a message that will tell that its blocked and why. In the example below, it was blocked because it is in the category of Pornography. The content filter will also block phishing websites and sites that distribute viruses, malware, and other small programs you really don’t want in your network.