Apr

Exploring The OpenDNS

The OpenDNS service is a public DNS, one of the best known, offering a great performance, and is open to all – hence the “Open” is there in the name. We often hear that the DNS system is the largest database in the world. In some ways, it really is, but there is a fundamental difference between the DNS system and a traditional database (MySQL as a server used by a dedicated server, for example), which is that the DNS is a distributed database .

With OpenDNS, you simply rely on a fast alternative, safe, and free of redundant DNS servers. The service has a huge cache, operates its own network of servers and software, and gets faster as more users use the tool, as more addresses are added to the list, and so, gradually, their performance will be enhanced.

Allied to this, one advantage of OpenDNS is its redundancy. The service has a wide network of data centers and servers spread across several locations around the world which means that the availability of services is also highly considered. If a data center goes down, for example, all traffic is redirected automatically, using cutting edge technology for the data center nearest you.

Phishing Protection (protection against false websites): Any attempt to access sites that are identified as such, is automatically blocked and an alert message is displayed. And for this, OpenDNS uses PhishTank, one of the largest and most widely used databases of phishing in the world.

Domain Blocking through the control panel: You can simply block access to any domain you want. Very useful for network administrators who want to block access to fraudulent Web sites with inappropriate content, etc.. The tool also features a contact form at the time of the blockade, so that the user can contact the network administrator if desired.

Parental Controls: A tool similar to the Domain Blocking, but much more powerful when the need is to block access to sites with inappropriate content, such as violence, for example, because it has a pre-defined list of more than four million blocked sites. All these sites are arranged in 50 categories of filtering, simply select the desired categories, or a level of pre-defined filtering, and within minutes the changes have already been applied.

Shortcuts: You can set shortcuts that can be used during navigation.

Statistics: The system offers a complete dashboard with statistics, such as “total requests”, “most visited domains”, “total attempts to access blocked domains”, etc., always containing complete information such as date, time, source and IP destination, etc..

Customization (customization of error pages): When you or any user on your network attempts to access a nonexistent site, or for any reason it is unavailable at that time, a page is displayed at the time, shows an consulted reason for the failure, which servers failed, etc. Also, this page can be customized by the user, and for companies, for example, you can insert the same logo, slogan, etc.