To better protect your family’s home internet usage, I recommend that you use content filtering.
For Software based filtering:
One way to do this is to make sure you have DNS settings that filter at the modem or router that connects you to the Internet. I currently use DNSByComodo.
Another option to look at is NetAngel – they offer a free , one computer / device license with notifications.
For Hardware based filtering:
I’m currently working on a simple inexpensive device to assist with content filtering. If you would like to be notified when it’s available, fill out the form below and select “Notify me when web content filter devices are available”. The intent is to offer these at wholesale cost for a limited time.
**Please Note: Content filtering will help protect you from many but not all unwanted sites. The best approach is to monitor website usage regularly.
Software filters are typically easier to bypass with moderate technical knowledge. Understanding the harmful effects of inappropriate material is crucial to creating and encouraging a desire to avoid them in the first place.
If it’s not possible to manage your router or modem, there’s a couple things you can do on each device that connects to your network.
Keep checking back – this page will be updated.
For Computers,
Edit your network adapters DNS settings and add the following DNS servers.
199.85.126.30
199.85.127.30
For Phones,
Android phones and devices
- Locate the Settings icon on your phone.
- Tap Wi-Fi. …
- Find your wireless network in the list, and then click and hold and release – you should see a “Manage network Settings“, select it.
- Under IP Settings, select Static – this will allow you to change DNS
- Scroll down to the DNS fields DNS1 & DNS2 if avaialble.
- Delete the current DNS servers, and enter the new DNS servers, 199.85.126.30 199.85.127.30 and click SAVE.
- Test your new DNS servers to make sure they’re working.
iphone –
- Locate the Settings icon on your phone.
- Tap Wi-Fi. …
- Find your wireless network in the list, and then click the arrow. …
- Tap the DNS field.
- Delete the current DNS servers, and enter the new DNS servers, 199.85.126.30 199.85.127.30
- Test your new DNS servers to make sure they’re working.
The following info is from tech.lds.org, in the wiki related to technology use and the home.
Technology is far from perfect, and there are people who work hard every day to find ways to get their content in front of our families and into our homes. They try to find ways to circumvent the technology that we put in place to prevent it. Elder Ballard once said “If we do not make good choices, the media can devastate our families and pull our children away from the narrow gospel path…This pernicious evil is not out in the street somewhere; it is coming right into our homes, right into the heart of our families.”[10]
There are some fairly standard things that we can all do to protect our families. These are things we have all heard before – namely:
- Keep computers out of bedrooms
- Do not share personal information over the Internet
- Learn how to use email safely: Be careful with attachments, emails from strangers, etc
- Limit time spent online
- Be careful about what information is shared on social networks
- Follow up regularly with all family members to ensure these rules are followed
- Every child or teen could give their usernames and passwords for all online accounts to their parents. Parents can review them regularly.
- Be sure to spell correctly and to use the correct TLD (.com, .edu, .gov, etc); since there are sites that pay to have similar spelled names, or are spelled the same with a different ‘dot’ like .net, instead of, .com.
- Always put a filter on a smart device before giving it to a child to use. Without doing this, they have 24/7 access to the most obscene pornography on the Internet.
More importantly, stay up-to-date on new technologies and how they are being used in our homes and families.
For the full article from tech.lds.org go here