PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN FROM THE INTERNET
Stop inappropriate content without spending a cent - here’s how…
I don't think there's a parent out there who isn't concerned about protecting their children online, no matter what their age.
My son is still quite young, so we have enough security in place to keep watch, but what about when your kids hit their teenage years? That's when things can get really tricky. You want to give them the freedom to make their own choices (and mistakes) while ensuring they aren't being exposed to content that will negatively impact their young minds.
Recently a customer came to CyberCloud with this very dilemma. Frustrated, they had searched the Internet for ways to protect their child online and already tried several solutions…all of them very complicated, including paid monthly services that were expensive and required additional boxes on their home network. To make matters worse, the Internet filtering service required a high level of ongoing administration and software agents deployed onto their home devices slowed down the internet speed so much that their teenage son was unable to game online via X-Box Live!
This got me thinking about what is out there and how can parents put the right amount of security in place to stop pornography and other inappropriate content making its way into their home. So what is the best and cheapest way to protect children online?
A quick search revealed dozens of products, services and solutions ranging from a few dollars to thousands of dollars; all of them with their benefits and drawbacks.
In a nutshell it looks like this:
Buy a 'special box'
Install software
Manage and administer the 'box' and/or 'software' (this may drive you crazy)
Pay a monthly subscription fee
Inevitably the experience is poor with many false positives and high latency = slow Internet speeds. In our customer’s case, they were OK with their teenage son streaming music with adult concepts and language so didn’t want his Spotify account blocked. To avoid this happening they had to turn their content blocking solution OFF!
So, what if there was a solution with:
NO software installed
NO additional boxes on the network
NO complex or ongoing administration
NO subscription or licensing fees
A faster Internet experience
And absolutely free!
Sound too good to be true? Well stay tuned…but first a little something about DNS.
WHAT IS DNS?
The Domain Name System (DNS) is the phonebook of the Internet. Humans access information online through domain names, like cybercloud.com.au or microsoft.com. Web browsers interact through Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. DNS translates domain names to IP addresses so browsers can load Internet resources. Each device connected to the Internet has a unique IP address which other machines use to find the device. DNS servers eliminate the need for humans to memorise IP addresses such as 192.168.1.1
CloudFlare for Families
1.1.1.1 for Families is the easiest way to add a layer of protection to your home network and protect it from malware and adult content. 1.1.1.1 for Families leverages Cloudflare's global network to ensure that it is fast and secure around the world.
Malware Blocking Only
Primary DNS: 1.1.1.2
Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.2
Malware and Adult Content
Primary DNS: 1.1.1.3
Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.3
HOW TO BLOCK MALWARE AND ADULT CONTENT?
1.1.1.1 for Families has two default options: one that blocks malware and the other that blocks malware and adult content. You choose which setting you want depending on which IP address you configure.
Follow this quick guide to start using 1.1.1.1 for Families on your router.
Step 1: Go to the IP address used to access your router's admin console in your browser.
- Linksys and Asus routers typically use http://192.168.1.1
- Netgear routers typically use http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1
- D-Link routers typically use http://192.168.0.1
- Ubiquiti routers typically use http://unifi.ubnt.com
Step 2: Enter the router password.
Step 3: Find the place in the admin console where DNS settings are set.
Step 4: Replace the existing addresses with:
- Primary DNS - 1.1.1.3
- Secondary DNS - 1.0.0.3
Step 5: Save and exit.
Step 6: Reboot your router and that’s it!
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE DNS CHANGES?
CloudFlare DNS are amongst the fastest service providers globally, even faster than your ISP and Google’s own 8.8.8.8 DNS servers, so you should see an increase in the speed of your Internet searches and page rendering.
Almost all adult content, including browsing to pornographic websites and searches will not return a result. If a member of your household attempts to type in or browse to a pornographic website, your home router will simply tell you that no such website exists and will display something along the lines of “This site can’t be reached”.
Malware content from known bad actors IP addresses and websites will also be automatically blocked. CloudFlare for Families DOES NOT replace the antivirus and malware software on your home PC, so always ensure your antivirus software is up to date with the latest pattern files.
Because there are no third-party software agents or boxes on your home network, services such as X-Box Live, Netflix and Apple TV should experience no performance impact, in fact your kids may even see an increase in gaming performance!
On the extremely rare occasion where you do find that CloudFlare for Families has incorrectly categorised a website you can provide the folks at CloudFlare your feedback here.
These are great tools to keep your child safe online when you can’t always be there to monitor their usage. You can also start talking about online safety with your kids from an early age and keep an open dialogue with them about the risks of the internet. We all have a part to play to keep our children safe online.
Want to know more about how to protect your family or business from online threats to your network and data? Contact us today to discuss your requirements.