How to bypass a website ban by DNS over HTTPS?

Recently I found that my default search engine DuckDuckGo (duckduckgo.com) was not opening in any web browser, while all other websites are working fine. In a basic troubleshooting, I found that my ISP ( ACT Fibrenet in Bengaluru, India) is blocking my DNS query to duckduckgo.com. ( See my blog on Domain name service DNS ).

DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH)

What is Domain name service (DNS) ?

When we type a URL address in any internet browser like google chrome or Internet explorer, the browser translates that name to something it understands, a number, called IP Address. In Internet, all the connected devices have an unique IP address. Eg: Google website ( google.com or google.in ) has an unique IP Address, Yahoo has its own address. It is difficult to remember all these addresses, that is when DNS helps us. A server running this DNS service maintains a table to translate the Name to IP Address to make things easy for humans

Configuring Mozilla Thunderbird for Microsoft Exchange mail

Microsoft Exchange is the widely used mail solution in buisiness world. Microsoft Outlook is the email client used with this . But if we have to configure mail in our Linux machine, we have to go for some alternative email clients . Mozilla Thunderbird is a good alternative for Outlook. It is also pre-installed in many distros (like Ubuntu 13.10 )To configure Mozilla Thunderbird for Exchange mail , we can use an addon - ExQuilla. This addon is able to connect to Exchange 2007, 2010 and latest 2013 also.

Historic Change to Internet's Domain Name System

ICANN's Board of Directors has approved a plan to usher in one of the biggest changes ever to the Internet's Domain Name System. Starting in 2013, regulators will allow websites to buy new Internet addresses that include common words or corporate brand names. Instead of the familiar website addresses that end in .com, .net, or .org, for example, there could be addresses ending in .Apple, .CBS, or .McDonalds.

Web content filtering with OpenDNS

Are you searching for a tool that will restrict your children or students from accessing unwanted websites? Are you in search of an easy tool to manage your networks web activites ? Then ,OpenDNS is the tool for you..!

How to set up?

First of all, change your router settings to use openDNS as your DNS servers. That is, change your DNS address as 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220. Dont know how to change DNS address of your router ?

Now create an account in www.opendns.com if you dont have one. Once you register, login to your openDNS dashboard. Now , go to "create a network" option in the dashboard. You can create networks as many as needed for your purposes. For example, for maintaining your home network ,create a network named "HOME" and for your office maintanence purposes , you can create a "OFFICE" network.

While creating networks, they will ask the IP address of your router. If you are using static IP, you can give that IP directly. But if you are using dynamic IP, you have to update the IP each time you have a new IP. You can do that manually(oops!) or you can use client softwares which will automatically updates your IP address once you get a new IP(:-) cool). You can download that softwares here(for windows,for mac).

So you have set up the your networks and now you are using openDNS. Now the important step comes..Content Filtering

Content Filtering

Go to "Settings" tab of your dashboard and choose the network for which you are going filter contents. Now in "Web Content Filtering" tab, you have different levels of web filters High,Moderate,Low,None and Customize. Choose one among them according to your need and give "Apply". Done! It will take about 3 minutes to get the settings active since the new rules are to be updated in all the openDNS DNS servers around the world!.

Manage individual domains

Another cool feature is that you can manage(either always block or never block) individual domains where you can make exceptions. For example, if you choose "Customize" level and you ticked "serach engines", all the search engines will be blocked. But if you want to allow "Google", you can just add a "never block" to google.com. Give it as google.com (not www.google.com) to apply this same rule for all the subdomains of google.com .

Who all are using OpenDNS?

• OpenDNS is the number one choice for K-12 schools. More than 40,000 public and private schools and school districts around the world use openDNS to control Web content. 
• OpenDNS is the smartest and easiest way to protect all Internet access in your home.
  

Support openDNS

• Tell a friend about openDNS.
• Add an OpenDNS Smart Button to your website or blog.

Help about openDNS

• Video tutorials
• web forum