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How do I block porn?

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Open DNS has been a great solution for me in blocking selective internet content, however if you are the chief of the house you will likely have their computer log in without administrator privileges, that is a standard account, you can also "modify" the account to fit the bill.

Posted by: rammolo at March 6, 2009 8:09 PM

I used OpenDNS for a while and then stopped using it. One big caveat was that it depends on its database of sites classified into categories. There could be many porn sites that are not yet in their database (although very extensive) and those would be allowed to pass through. Wrong classification is also a problem with OpenDNS.

Also a little net savvy person can very easily circumvent the blockade.

I personally prefer a solution based on my own network - e.g router/firewall based or a separate parental control device. You can route all net traffic through a master computer and use a control software on that machine. Any small PC would do a good job.

Posted by: Rahul Mehta at March 7, 2009 8:35 AM

I really think Opone NS is better than just a router firewall, all you have to do is press the router reset switch for 10 seconds, and all your settings and protection is away, even by a remote computer on your own network..

Posted by: rammolo at March 7, 2009 8:14 PM

Resetting the router also resets the DNS settings that were pointing to OpenDNS.

Besides that will be only a temporary access as such a reset is soon observed and you can take appropriate counter measures. Protect your router physically, if such case is to be expected.

Yep. As I mentioned in the article someone dedicated with just a bit of knowledge may work around whatever you do. There's no 100% solution. (But this is a good reminder: secure your router.)
- Leo
08-Mar-2009

Posted by: Rahul Mehta at March 7, 2009 9:09 PM

Open DNS settings will no change resetting the router because the settings resides on Open DNS servers, but you must be running the open DNS client on each computer so it can track IP if your ISP use dynamic IP adressing.

Not quite.

Resetting the router will cause your client machines to stop using OpenDNS as the router reverts to giving the default DNS servers for your internet connection.

You only need to run the OpenDNS client a) if you have a dynamic IP, and b) on only one machine on your network.
- Leo
09-Mar-2009

Posted by: rammolo at March 8, 2009 3:25 PM

correcting my last post, you must point to open DNS in each individual computer when assigning Static IP,s, and have open DNS client software also in each computer.

Posted by: rammolo at March 8, 2009 3:39 PM

Resetting the router is messy....

With a router, the default strategy is to have router point to a DNS server normailly assigned by the ISP or OpenDNS and have all computers on the network point to the router as their DNS as assigned by the DHCP. This is easier on adding any new PCs and taking PCs on another network. You don't have to reconfigure the PC every time you move it to a new network. Easy on the laptop too.

Also resetting the router erases the log-on information to your ISP. And all Internet connection is broken until you reconfigure your router to log on to the ISP. So unless you know the log on information, you can't reconfigure the router to ever connect to the ISP.

Not all internet connections require that the router "log on". In fact I'd guess that most actually do not. In those cases simply resetting the router will get you a working, but OpenDNS-free, internet connection.
- Leo
09-Mar-2009
Posted by: Rahul Mehta at March 8, 2009 6:47 PM

It's pretty demented to actually monitor which sites adults are visiting. Living with you sounds like a nightmare. Even if your son-in-law is a pain, you are no picnic yourself to live with, I am betting.

Thank God for the First Amendment. What do you have against it?

The first amendment (assuming she's even in the United States) doesn't mean she has to allow others to bring materials she considers objectionable into her own home.
- Leo
11-Mar-2009
Posted by: m g at March 10, 2009 9:56 AM

configure your computer to use a specific IP address for your network AND a specific DNS, and you're not using OpenDNS ..
Hope the guy's idiotic son-in-law isn't a computer geek ..
.
btw .. using an online proxy should bypass OpenDNS security .. atleast i think it would. OpenDNS would only see traffic coming in from the proxy server and let it go. O don't remember much from when i last used my OpenDNS account .. =P .. but if OpenDNS blocks proxies, google translater is a useful tool.
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the guy who asked this should be praying his son-in-law doesn't read this thread .. =P

Posted by: Amin Shah Gilani at March 10, 2009 10:48 AM

My ISP requires a login before using its services. I prefer using my router, thus I don't have to login from my machine. More importantly, as Rahul points out, if IS-I-L resets the router, then no one gets out until the router is reconfigured again, assuming they don't know the password required by the ISP.

For those who login in from their machines rather than use the firewall, but have a situation similar to the author of the original question, one could switch over the configuration, per Rahul, AND change the password without providing it to IS-I-L. From that point on, if, IS-I-L pushes the reset, but there goes his access.

I've had several routers. Both allow backup of settings to a PC. This greatly simplifies restoring settings if a router is reset.

Footnote, if IS-I-L actually resets the router, the fight you wish to avoid will be out in the open, but you are on solid to ground to regulate what comes into your own home.

A lawyer would have to advise whether or not you'd have any responsiblity should child porn be downloaded by IS-I-L, notwithstanding the First Ammendment.

Posted by: TacoMonster at March 10, 2009 11:04 AM
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