Tom Smith, Director of Information Technology, The Park School
January 15, 2009
Parents often ask me, "What should I install on my home computers to help provide a safe and appropriate home computing environment for my family?". Over the last several months we have been testing OpenDNS, a free web filter service. I believe it is an excellent solution for home computer networks of all types, with all kinds of computers and other wireless devices like iPod Touch or iPhone.
Background Information
When you open a web browser, like Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and others, or when you use e-mail or other Internet applications, you specify a web address for whatever site you want to reach. For example, when you enter "www.parkschool.org" in your web browser, your computer sends a request to a special computer known as a DNS server. That server provides your computer with the unique number that identifies "www.parkschool.org". The unique number is known as an IP address, and for www.parkschool.org that is 64.119.144.227. For CNN.com it is a different IP address, and so on for every web site you visit. Most likely, the DNS server used by your home Internet provider doesn't make any judgment as to whether the server you specify is valid or appropriate.
OpenDNS is a company that operates some fast DNS servers that you may use instead of those provided by your Internet provider. Furthermore, they give you the option of creating a free account where you can customize the strictness of your network filter. This filter applies to both wired and wireless network devices that use your home network devices like computers, iPod Touch, and iPhone. Devices that connect via other networks, like cell phone carriers, are not filtered. To protect those, I recommend that you contact your cell phone provider to turn on parental controls for cell phones used by children.
Please keep in mind that installing OpenDNS on your home computers and network router will only reduce, not completely eliminate potential Internet hazards. This will not eliminate the need to take an active interest in the Internet activities of your children.
Get Started
To read more about OpenDNS for the home, and for instructions on how to set up your home network to use OpenDNS, please visit the following web page:
I recommend that you take advantage of their offer to set up a free account so that you can adjust the strictness of your filter to match your specific family profile. (Don't forget your password!)
Furthermore, if you have mobile computers that you want to protect, even when they are away from your home network, then I suggest you also follow their instructions to specify the OpenDNS servers for each mobile computer. In this way, a child's laptop computer will use OpenDNS even if they get wireless service from your neighbor, or when they take their laptop away from home. Of course, a savvy child can change those settings back to some other DNS server, unless you do something to prevent it. I suggest you make a pact with your children that they may not change any network settings on their computers.
Thank you for your interest to set up a safe and appropriate home computer network for your family. If you would like more information on this and other technology topics, please visit us at:
