OpenDNS: The DNS Fix? A Phishing Fix?
OpenDNS commits itself to be the "better [DNS] mousetrap." DNS translates (aka resolves) a domain name to its IP address. OpenDNS goes one step further by intercepting phishing attempts. Phishing is used for identity theft.
While OpenDNS's mission may sound hokey, after reading through the OpenDNS site -- I believe it to be sincerely motivated:
...being a business which succeeds by making the Internet a better place. That combination isn't necessarily unique (c.f., "don't be evil"), but David wants OpenDNS to be successful and still be able to look his mother in the eye because he's doing the right thing.
However, my analyst roots cause me to point out some caveats:
- The company's name "OpenDNS" implies that the software is open source. It is not. OpenDNS adds propriety extensions to standards-based DNS. This means that its source code cannot be freely used. OpenDNS is a revenue-based, commercial company. UPDATE: To be clear, OpenDNS does not change the way that DNS works. They provide addiitonal functions to DNS. See Comments.
- OpenDNS states that its service is free. Indeed, it is. However, similar to other free Internet services, it is advertiser sponsored.
- OpenDNS states that its service is faster than traditional DNS. That's true, in part to its bigger caches. However, OpenDNS does not have, by any comparison, anywhere near the traffic activity that traditional DNS has.
- If you are reading this, I assume you are tecky enough to know that you'll need to change default DNS settings, and OpenDNS shows you how to do so. However, a tecky "wannabe" may mess up the DNS settings altogether. Even messed up settings are easy to fix -- if you know what you are doing.
- OpenDNS is honest in saying that it will not eliminate all phishing attempts. Therefore, recognize that OpenDNS is not a replacement for anti-phishing technology.
If you understand these caveats, then OpenDNS may work for you. However, caveat emptor -- don't change every namespace that you can touch to use OpenDNS. Play with a few non-crucial namespaces, while keeping track of OpenDNS development.
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Check out this related CNET article "DNS service promises safer, faster browsing."