Safe(r) Web Browsing for the Kiddies

[Darren]

Been using these guys for a while, but just had to reconfigure everything with a new router and thought I'd share...

check http://OpenDNS.com, works by blocking access to dodgy domains at teh DNS level - no software to install. Feel free to ask questions here

[The InnFORCEr]

Q. What the hell are you talking about, or should I just ask TLH?

[Darren]

When you enter a domain name into your browser, such as twf.com.au, your computer/device performs a DNS lookup to get the address of the page which is returned as an IP address (in TWF's case - the IP address is 119.252.88.204)

The domain name is ultimately just a nickname for an IP address which is easy to remember or recognise, it's the IP address that you actually need to get to a website or service (put 119.252.88.204 into your browsers address bar and you'll still end up at TWF).

Your computer will usually connect to your ISP's DNS servers to perform the DNS lookup to get the IP address.

OpenDNS gives you an alternative DNS server to use rather than that provided by your ISP. You need to configure your PC/Device or Router with this alternative DNS server.

The difference being that when the OpenDNS server receives a request for a dodgy/porn/illegal site, rather than return the actual address of the site, it returns the address of their own site with a warning page saying the dodgy site been blocked.

End result is that little Johnny follows a link to a porn site and ends up at a blocked page message instead.

[sittingbison]

but how does it know that one ip address is porn and another is TWF when all they are is an innocuous bunch of 12 digits?

[GIGS20]

They have people whose job it is to check out each of the addresses to see if it's dodgy!

[sittingbison]

although I don't use them %) I suspect there are an awful lot of porn addresses. And who's to say they are dodgy?

[normie]

I would hazard a guess that it would seek out bad sites with deceptive, innocuous sounding names that could trick kids into opening them.

[jombi]

Rename thread to "Make it take 5 seconds longer for your kids to watch porn"

The only way for kids to safely surf the net is under your supervision.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Darren]

If they are smart enough to work around what I put in place and are old enough to want to actually seek stuff out - good luck to them. It's the accidental stuff I try to minimise.

Example - my boy asked my how how could have a 3 way with two of his friends, who coincidentally are female. Took a few questions to work out that he meant a 3 way conversation /conference call on Skype ...

[theforceguy]

Works like a charm!!

[.X.]

Wait a minute.

Porn is dodgy?