Keeping the Bad Out: Safeguarding your Home or Office Network

A couple of days ago a Facebook friend posted “it’s is just as important what you have inside your heart as what you keep out of your heart”.  That is so true. 

That is just the case with the internet.  There are so many good things online but keeping the bad stuff out can sometimes be a problem in both the home and office environment.

One tool that I started using (both home and at GoVaughn.com Insurance) in February of 2008 is OpenDNS.com. This cloud based computing services enables you to block certain websites by category or site name from being viewed on any of your network computers.

A while back one of our computers was hit with a bit of malware from Facebook (Koobface). With OpenDNS.com they block those known sites.  Several antivirus vendors recommend OpenDNS.com  to block sites.

I signed up for a free account and haven't looked back.

Here are some important points about OpenDNS.com that you should know:

• You can block sites by category (Social Networking, gambling, porn, hate/discrimination, adware and just plain tasteless sites).
• You can block specific sites that you encounter problems with or just don’t want others visiting (shopping sites).
• OpenDNS.org will block access to sites that are virus ridden.
• You can specify exceptions to the categories.
• You can get reports of sites that were blocked, but you can't get specific info on who tried to access them.
• The ads only appear when there is a DNS error. They will suggest some similar sites to visit instead (often the site the user was trying to access but misspelled the URL). These suggested sites paid for placement there. That's where they get their revenue.  OpenDNS.org does have a paid service now that is sans the advertisement.
• It works best if your network has a static IP but can be set up with some extra software if you don't.
• If you don't know what you are doing, you should consult with your network guru to make sure that you don't mess up your internal network by adjusting DNS settings on your servers and PC's.

This site is easy to use and maintain.  I have told several non-computer people about the service, and they are using with no problems.  

Even if you don’t plan on using the filtering service (I highly recommend that you do) you can use OpenDNS.com to make your internet browsing faster. They claim that sites open faster using OpenDNS.com that your ISP’s DNS.  DNS stands for domain name server.  That is the server that turns a URL (words) into an IP address (numbers).

At my home in downtown Henderson KY my wireless network is open, and I am in directly across the street from Sunset Park in the downtown area.  I keep my wireless network open for the public in the park.  My wireless network is actually called “Sunset Park”.  One reason I feel safe doing this is that I use OpenDNS.org.  You are not going to be able to go anywhere you shouldn’t be therefore, we are fulfilling the mission of keeping the bad stuff out.

For explicit information, please visit www.opendns.com.

How do you feel about keeping the BAD internet out of your life?

Was OpenDNS.com able to help?

Happy 13th Birthday River Priest

Today (January 16, 2010) is my one and only nephew River Thomas Priest, 13th birthday.  

Happy Birthday River and welcome to pre-adulthood (aka teen-ager). Yes, I have a niece -Sister Kally-and more on her later.

I can’t begin to describe what a blessing this special boy (now a teenager) continues to be.  He’s a sweet, compassionate and caring kid.  Although I don't want time to fly by I can’t wait to see what he is going to do during his adulthood.  He is a one of a kind blessing to others.

One of my most favorite stories I love to tell about River come from a trip that Greg and I took him and his sister Kally on Spring break 2009 to St Louis Missouri .  

We were walking in the downtown area towards the St Louis Cardinals Baseball Stadium for a moment, I lost eye contact with River and looked to see what he was doing.  I looked back and River and was giving money to a stranger, a homeless beggar.  He did it totally on his own.  Not asking permission, not telling what he was doing- he just did it!

What an altruistic act  for a then 12 year old.  He is just like that.  He gave without thinking.  He didn’t try to reason in his mind before the giving act- what was the beggar was going to do with these coins- he just gave because he felt the man’s need.  River has a spirit we all need to have!  

Many times in my life I have often used the excuse before giving to someone “They are just going to buy more alcohol or drugs with that money” and I did not give.   I have learned (thanks Pastor Tim) we have to give unconditionally.  Thanks River for showing us all that too!

Today’s Grace for the Moment sends me to Galatians 6:4 “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.”  River is on to doing just that.  God never prefabs or mass-produces people.  He makes all things new.   God didn’t hand you (River) your family’s bag or your parent’s life; he personally and deliberately packed YOU!  So make a deliberate exploration of who you are and the work you have been given and sink yourself into doing just that! 

Lori and Neal (my one and only brother) have done a great job raising a special young man River Thomas Priest!

I love you River!

Uncle Nibby