Instead of your device doing the work of filtering, you can “outsource” that work to DNS (Domain Name Service) – in other words, you can filter via your router.
If you have many devices you want to filter in your home or small office you should consider filtering via your router. If your router supports it (and if it doesn’t, you can pick up a router for ~$20-$30 that does) you can set up your router to route all traffic out from your network through a service such as OpenDNS. This of course won’t filter your laptop when you are away from home/the office.
The biggest advantage of Network Filtering is that every device connected to your network – PCs, Macs, Android or Apple Smartphones, Gaming machines (XBox, etc.) are automatically filtered. No software is installed on the local device.
There are two disadvantages:
- Smartphone users can go around the filter by not connecting to your network.
- This means that your family’s smartphones still need to have filters installed on the device. This is necessary anyway, since the whole purpose of a mobile phone is to be used away from your home network.
- For guests, this really isn’t your issue. If they prefer to incur data charges versus riding your filtered network, that’s their decision.
- There is no indicator that the filter is active.
- Since the filter is running at the router, it is largely invisible to your PC, so there is no indicator on your desktop showing the filter is running.
OpenDNS
Price: Free (paid features available)
Homepage: opendns.com
OpenDNS works well for filtering via your router, with highly customizable settings, or a simple initial set up to block dangerous sites (malware and phishing, etc.) and allow only “family friendly” sites via OpenDNS FamilyShield. OpenDNS filters every device attached to your network, with no software installation needed. It works for PCs and WiFi devices (Android/iOS tablets, smartphones, etc.) because the content is blocked at the name server and never sent to your network.
It is possible for devices to avoid the filter, (smartphone users can just use their own data, and not connect to your network).