Control the traffic – Simple but effective

The simplest option is to go to the next step and manage what network traffic is coming into your house. The only way to control what is happening is to take control of your internet data searches. To explain this, we will need to look a little deeper. For those of you who don’t want to read it, don’t worry. You won’t miss anything, but knowing a little about it will make a lot of difference in keeping your children safer online. DO NOT WORRY; this is not a place of judgment; our aim is to make this as simple as possible; if we fail, tell us!

DNS – Domain Name System

It is easy to think of the internet as a big cloud of “stuff”, but remember, it is all computers. Like houses or offices, houses need to have addresses or, in this case, let us think of telephone numbers. DNS (or the Domain Name System) is how computers find the “Telephone Number” of the website you want your computer to talk to. So when you type into your web browser – https://geordieconsulting.co.uk (you’re already at Geordie Intelligence, so let’s send you to our corporate side), the following things happen.

1. Your computer (or phone) “calls” the DNS it knows.
2. The DNS looks up the correct details.
3. The DNS “calls” your computer (or phone) back with the correct “phone number” (IP Address).
4. Your computer (or phone) “calls” the correct “phone number” and starts the two start their conversation.

Let’s talk about the simplest option

As a parent, you want to protect your family from certain websites or “phone numbers.” The easiest way to do this is to change the DNS or Directory Services Number they use. Several services offer adult site protection, and these are relatively easy to set up on devices. Please note that Android devices seem to engage more actively regarding device-level protection. In your home, though, the easiest option is to log into your broadband-provided router and update the DNS server.

NOTE: For thier own reasons Broadband providers are removing the ability to change your home router DNS information, this forces you to use thier Directory Services. We will let you decide why they would do that, they will say that doing this prevents you from deleting the settings and so breaking your home broadband. If you find your broadband is affected please let us know so we can start to put together a list of unfriendly Service Providers. If you have an unfriendly broadband provider you will need to make changes to every device. The provider we are recommending has several simple step by step guides, just remember not to ask your children to do it for you...

Known unfriendly Service Providers
- EE - UK
- Virgin Media - UK

DNS Service Providers
To investigate and prepare for this, we found only one service that we would recommend, although we found approximately five. This one combined a reasonable location and feature set. You may feel differently and have different requirements, so feel free to use a different source. Please let everyone know if you have positive and negative experiences, let us help the community get the best protection they can from this simple way option.

OpenDNS can provide an ideal starting point for many people. The next step is the one that we recommend to anyone serious about taking control of their home broadband solution. Although this option is inherently more complex and equally requires investment, as you will have to buy equipment for your home, the cost of this starts at around £100 or the local equivalent.

Honourable mentions