In this section, you will learn how to block websites, block ads, and setup a porn filter. If you are a concerned parent with “curious” children, or an employer losing costly employee time to social media sites and other time-wasting activities, this section is for you.
How to block websites?
Using a 3rd party DNS server such as OpenDNS offers more control of the content that reaches your network. Without doing this, you are forced to use the DNS servers provided by your ISP. The downside to that is that you have little control of the content delivered to your network. Your ISP just serves everyone the same stuff and expects that to work for everyone.
I beg to differ. I do not believe that a household with 3 small children should expect the same degree of “uncensored” ads and “exposure” as 3 college party animals camping out in a bachelor pad. Are you tracking with me?
Thanks to OpenDNS, you are no longer stuck with a “one-size-fits-all” system. Moreover, OpenDNS is a great first line of defense to filter porn, malware, block ads, websites, and phishing scams. In fact, you gain much more control over what is displayed on the computers within your network.
First, you’ll need an account with OpenDNS.com, then we’ll need to connect that account to our router. So, first, create an OpenDNS account.
Let’s Configure the OpenDNS settings
Manage Networks
Enter your profile information. Then add a new network under the ‘Settings’ tab. Once you’ve added a new network, you can manage it by clicking the IP address next to the name of your network.
Setup a porn filter to block adult content
Porn Filter
Click the ‘view’ link next to each filter to see the type of content that will be filtered for each setting. You can also customize the default settings by selecting ‘customize’. This simply opens a window that allows you to check additional content you wish to block. When you are finished, click Apply.
Each filter level offers various degrees of protection.The Low setting acts primarily as a porn filter to block pornography related content. The Moderate setting blocks porn and sites with known illegal activity. The High setting might block websites that you use regularly such as social media, and file sharing sites. If you’re an employer, this might be a wonderful thing for you. If you’re a parent that wants to protect their children, yet still have the freedom to use social media and video sites, you might consider starting out with the Moderate setting and adjust as needed.
Block Websites and Ads
Block Websites / Ads
If you want to block websites, simply scroll down to manage individual website domains. This is a great way to block ads. From here, you can also block (or unblock) websites. Or you can ensure that you are always able to access certain websites and that those sites are not filtered.
You can block several of the major advertisers and create a more pleasant online experience. Keep in mind that this may violate your terms of service with some websites, primarily those whose primary source of income is ad-sponsored.
Navigate to: Dashboard > Settings > Web Content Filtering
Scroll down and under ‘Block Individual Domains’ enter these domains. Enter as many or few as you wish. This will block a lot of advertising across all of the computers in your network.
- 2o7.net (this is the letter ‘o’ NOT the number zero in the middle)
- 2mdn.com
- adbrite.com
- adbureau.net
- adsonar.com
- advertising.com
- atwola.com
- chitika.net
- clickz.com
- coremetrics.com
- fastclick.net
- hitbox.com
- intellitxt.com
- mediaplex.com
- revsci.net
- tacoda.net
- tribalfusion.com
- zedo.com
- kontera.com (kontera is famous for those mouseover ads found in forums)
- doubleclick.net (Google runs this so you may or may not want to block this one)
Block entire countries using international abbreviations. A lot of malware and scams originate from other countries, especially in Eastern provinces like China, Russia, Nigeria, Iran, and a few Asian countries. For example:
- cn (block websites from China)
- ru (block websites from Russia)|
- ng (block websites from Nigeria)
- ir (block websites from Iran)
- hk (block websites from Hong Kong)
- th (block websites from Thailand)
Setup OpenDNS on your Tomato router
Once you have your OpenDNS account configured, the next step is to configure your router.
Router Settings
Login to your router and enter your OpenDNS account details into the routers administration panel. If you are running Tomato firmware, use the left menu, then:
Navigate to: Basic > DDNS
Select OpenDNS, and enter the login credentials for your OpenDNS account. Be sure that the network name matches the label you assigned your network or the service may not work.
Tick the option ‘use as DNS’
Tick the option ‘Force next update’
Click ‘Save’
Your router is now configured to use 3rd party DNS servers. This change will affect your entire LAN. Each device within your LAN will now receive DNS responses from OpenDNS, instead of your ISP.
