0 OpenDNS – Providing a safer and faster internet (Guide) By Jayaraj Yadav

     

OpenDNS

DNS :
Whenever a domain name (website address)  is typed you are taken to that particular site. The Internet however, is really based on IP addresses. Every time you use a domain name, therefore, a DNS service must translate the name into the corresponding IP address which is very hard-to-remember. This process will be carried out by various DNS (Domain Name System) servers around the world .
While this conversion occurs in the background it is vital for your Internet speeds.The communication between user’s computer and the DNS server is carried out by your browser which acts as a DNS client. Yet, despite being largely transparent, the DNS system is not without its problems.
If your ISP’s  (Internet Service Provider) DNS server is down then you can’t access that website unless you know its ip address.So instead of relying on our ISP’s DNS server we can switch over to Open DNS , a more reliable and a secure service.
OpenDNS :
OpenDNS is a free DNS resolution service.OpenDNS offers DNS resolution for consumers and businesses as an alternative to using their Internet service provider’s DNS servers. By placing company servers in strategic locations and employing a large cache of the domain names, OpenDNS usually processes queries much more quickly, thereby increasing page retrieval speed.
OpenDNS is today used by millions of users around the world.It has integrated some advanced features such as webcontent filtering, anti phishing.

Setting up Open DNS:
To use OpenDNS all you have to do is some minor tweaks.
Using Xp:

1. Select Control Panel from the Start menu.
2. Click Network Connections from the Control Panel choices.
3. Choose your connection from the Network Connections window.
4. Click Properties button.
5. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties.
6. Click the radio button “Use the following DNS server addresses” and type in OpenDNS addresses in the Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server fields as 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220

Using Vista :

1. Click the Start Orb, then select Control Panel.
2. Click on View network status and tasks.
3. Click on View status.
4. Click the Properties button.
5. Vista may ask for your permission to make changes. If so, click the Continue button.
6. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click the Properties button.
7. Click the radio button “Use the following DNS server addresses” and type in OpenDNS addresses in the Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server fields as 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
8. Click the OK button, then the Close button, and the Close button again. Close the Network and Sharing Center window.

That’s it now you are an OpenDNS user.
For detailed instructions and for router configuration click here.
Video Tutorial : http://www-files.opendns.com/videos/getstarted_video.flv
Stay Secure :
If you are interested in using their advanced features such as Phishing protection,etc you are required to register an account. If you have dynamic ip address (A dynamic IP Address is an IP address that is assigned to a computer every time it connects to the internet) you have to use OpenDNS updaters available  to update your ip address.
(Download the file available at the end of this post)
Shortcuts :
Shortcuts are a cool way to use a short word for a long address. There’s nothing to install and it works how you want it to, no matter which browser you’re using. It is also possible to start your favorite messenger clients like AOL or Google Talk from the address bar and chat with buddies quickly.Add, remove or change your OpenDNS shortcuts at any time.You can create and manage all your shortcuts with a free account and the OpenDNS Dashboard.

• Go to Dashboard
• Go to Shortcuts
• Create a new shortcut or manage existing shortcuts.

Privacy Concens :
While the OpenDNS name resolution service is free, people have complained about how the service handles failed requests. If a domain cannot be found, the service redirects you to a search page with search results.
Also, a user’s search request from the address bar of a browser that is configured to use the Google search engine (with a certain parameter configured) may be covertly redirected to a server owned by OpenDNS without the user’s consent (but within the OpenDNS Terms of Service).
Prevent OpenDNS From Redirecting:
Login to your account at opendns.com and then uncheck “Enable typo correction” under Dashboard -> Settings -> Advanced Settings>Domain Typos.
In addition to this the following fixes are required.

Fix for firefox :

1. Type about:config in your address bar.
2. Click “I’ll be careful, I promise !”
3. Type keyword.url in the Filter field.
4. Set the value as http://www.google.com/search?q=
   

Alternatively, you can set the value as
http://www.google.com/search?btnI=I%27m+Feeling+Lucky&q=
for using Google’s I’m feeling lucky option which directly takes you to the first search result
Fix for IE:
Download here
Conclusion :
OpenDNS has introduced an new service that will prevent PCs infected with the Conficker (aka Downadup) malware from contacting its control servers, and will also make it easy for admins to know if even a single machine under their control has been infected by Conficker.
So we believe that OpenDNS offers a secure setup and you get a host of advanced features
Screenshots :
1. Fix for Firefox :

Firefox Fix

2.OpenDNS Dashboard :

opendns

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