How to Control DNS on a Network with IPTables and DNAT

Most routers allow you to define the DNS server to be used by all devices on your network via DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). That’s what makes it possible to use the CleanBrowsing content filtering service to protect all devices on the network.   While effective, there are instances where a network administrator might want…

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Accounting for IPv6 in Your Content Filtering Strategy

If you’re implementing a content filtering strategy using DNS as the support technology stack, you have no choice but to be familiar with basic network terms like IPv4 and IPv6. in this article we’ll provide a basic primer, and provide you with some things to think about when deploying your filtering solution. What is IPv6?…

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Accounting for Ad / Tracking Domains That Impact How a Site Performs

Via the CleanBrowsing platform, a user can proactively block predefined categories like Ads / Tracking. As the name implies, it’s designed to block domains that have been used, and flagged, for some form of data collection and / or advertisements.   The problem, however, comes in the way that websites implement these trackers. In many…

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How to Block Instagram

If you manage a network at home, or an office, you might want to take control of what is happening on your network. There are different solutions available, but one of the most effective options is to leverage the Domain Name System (DNS).   Because of how DNS works, you don’t have to use a…

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How to Block Facebook

If you manage a network at home, or an office, you might want to take control of what is happening on your network. There are different solutions available, but one of the most effective options is to leverage the Domain Name System (DNS).   Because of how DNS works, you don’t have to use a…

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VPN’s and Content Filtering

Virtual Private Networks (VPN) create a private tunnel that keeps curious eyes out of your online activities. They were designed to help systems outside of trusted environment access the trusted environment, but over the years have grown as a staple of good security hygiene amongst online users.   While we don’t believe everyone needs one,…

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Browser Extensions Function as a Gateway to the Outside World

We recently shared some of our insights around Encryption, explaining what it is, and how it’s affecting families and small network owners. In those articles, we explained how it’s quickly becoming the #1 preferred mechanism to bypass network controls because of it’s ease of use.   While I did talk about VPN’s, I didn’t talk…

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How Encrypted DNS is used to Bypass Content Filtering Services

Encryption is a mechanism by which you make things that are traditionally readable, unreadable. It’s the technology that helps keep those that should not be able to see something, from seeing something. As a security professional and privacy advocate, it’s a great thing!   As a parent, or a network administrator, charged with creating family-friendly…

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The Importance of Public IP’s on the CleanBrowsing Platform

CleanBrowsing works at the network level, specifically via the Domain Name System (DNS). Via DNS, we can intercept outgoing requests and make a determination if it should be accessible based on the rules created in your account. Do you allow social media? Should we allow Twitter? Do you allow adult / pornographic content? Should we…

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Allow and Disallow Apps Using CleanBrowsing

Every paid dashboard offers its user the ability to easily tune a network to a desired end state. What CleanBrowsing offers is a foundation to build the desired family friendly network. CleanBrowsing, like most other networking tunes, may require some tuning. This is especially true when it comes to apps, what one customer finds acceptable…

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