You may have heard last week that for some users, a DNS virus was affecting some Windows users internet access after the FBI pulled a plug for a fix for the last five years or so. What did the FBI do? They set up a new DNS server for those affected.
This is off of the top of my head, so bear with me. DNS is geeky shorthand for Domain Name Server. When a website registers a Domain Name with ICAAN, a redirect is made to point to a bunch of numbers, the IP Address. So Disney.com might actually be 692.503.XXX.XXX. The Domain Name Server resolves the registered Domain Name to the proper IP address.
What the “virus” did was to point the DNS server to somewhere else which would make the internet inoperable for those Windows machines infected. I’m guessing that most of those machines are not still online anyway. I think I read that maybe 50-60k machines were infected in the US, a pretty small number.
The primary point that I’m trying to convey is that no matter what platform that you enjoy, be it Windows, Mac, or Linux, there is a free solution available, it is called OpenDNS.
What does OpenDNS do, and why should I use it?
First and foremost, for me at least, OpenDNS servers are faster than your internet provider offers. You can also block any site, or group of sites if you choose, and even configure it in your router.
If you are running a Mac, all you need to do is go to System Preferences> Network>Advanced: and enter the OpenDNS IP address under DNS:
You can also configure your router, to learn more, go here:
You’ll be glad you did.
I actually want to know the reasons why you called this article, âTechie
Update: Open DNS « Rich TAkes!â. In any event . I personally admired the blog!
Thanks-Cinda