Fight Conficker, Other Security Threats with OpenDNS
If you run a small or medium-size business, security software can cost you a small or medium-size fortune. Fortunately, there's OpenDNS, a free service that helps protect your PCs from outside attacks. At the same time, it blocks inappropriate content so your employees can't visit productivity-draining (and potentially lawsuit-generating) sites:
Over at PC World, there's a helpful article that explains the Domain Name System (a.k.a DNS) and reveals how OpenDNS provides a safer alternative to your ISP's own DNS servers. Here's a key excerpt:
First, you can set it up to block objectionable domains, thereby protecting your business from lawsuits. Second, OpenDNS blocks known exploit domains, so you have a better chance to avoid getting trapped by some hacker. You also get superior DNS service thanks to OpenDNS's servers, which reportedly return OpenDNS domains faster than ones for the general Internet. And finally the service catches common typos in domains--a big plus for people who make more than their share of mistakes when typing domain names into their browsers.Hard to believe OpenDNS is free, but there you have it. It's admirably simple to set up, and once it's in place, boom, you're done. You may want to make some tweaks to the content-filtering settings, but otherwise it's a set-it-and-forget-it solution.
Interestingly, OpenDNS also works great on home networks, as it allows parents to keep kids away from inappropriate content without having to install or monitor special software.