| | | |  | | In this Issue | | | | 1. OpenDNS Web filtering: Your choice, not your government's | | | |
| | | | 2. How do the new .xxx and gTLDs affect you and your family? | | | |
| | | | 3. Wear the love: Show your support for OpenDNS | | | |
| | | | 4. Meet an OpenDNSer: Jessica Gadling | | | |
| | | |  | | | | | OpenDNS Web filtering: Your choice, not your government's | | | | | | | | As most of you already know, OpenDNS offers world-class Web filtering services to homes, schools and businesses. We have always stood firmly by the idea that these services should be managed by individual network administrators, like parents determining the safest online experience for their kids, business owners deciding what constitutes a productive work environment, and network administrators at the 1 in 3 K-12 schools in the U.S. who choose OpenDNS to keep kids safe online. We believe that when governments and ISPs interfere with the Internet, it restricts innovation and inhibits free and open communications. As the Internet becomes an increasingly-powerful tool that the whole world relies on, it also becomes a powerful tool that governments can use to oppress their constituents. That's we why decided it was time to release an official policy to reinforce a belief we've held since we launched in 2006. OpenDNS will not allow governments or ISPs to use our services to dictate which websites are accessible at a national or regional level. No government or ISP will ever use OpenDNS to engage in mass Internet censorship for its people. We invite you to read our official policy and share your feedback with us on the blog.
| | | | | | | | | | | How do the new .xxx and gTLDs affect you and your family? | | | | | | | | The Domain Name System was developed more than 30 years ago as a way to ensure that the brilliant network we now know as the Internet could scale and see adoption. As an innovator in the DNS space, and the first to introduce the concept of building security directly into the DNS, we're always following changes to the DNS and examining how it will affect you, our users. Recently, a change was made to the DNS and we wanted to share it with you. ICANN, the global body that oversees the Internet and authors its policies, announced a plan to make two new types of top-level domains available. Current TLDs include .com, .net and .org, among many others. The new TLDs are seemingly designed to help businesses and spur economic activity. One, .xxx, is designated for use by websites that include pornographic content as a way to easily differentiate from non-pornographic sites. The other, generic TLDs or "gTLDs," basically turn any brand or term into its own TLD. For example: .Pepsi, .Apple or .football. We're closely monitoring the later "gTLDs" for any security threat they could pose in the future, but for now we'll focus on how .xxx TLDs affect you. If you would like to block all .xxx domains on your network, you can follow a few simple steps. Simply head to your dashboard and locate your "always block" list or blacklist. Add "xxx" (without the dot). Hit "add domain" and the change will take effect. To read more about how gTLDs could present a security risk, read Allison's story on the blog and stay tuned right here in the newsletter for updates. | | | | | | | | | | | Wear the love: Show your support for OpenDNS | | | | | | | | When you wear an OpenDNS t-shirt you say a lot of things to the world: You support the cause of a more secure Internet experience, you believe in the right for people to determine their own online experience and not to have it determined for them, and you know the smartest, fastest way to get where you're going online. OpenDNS t-shirts have been selling like crazy since we launched our store a few years back and now we've added even more items for your wearing pleasure. For starters, we've added pint-sized OpenDNS t-shirts so that you can deck out the little ones you're protecting online. Think of how great you'll look in your matching OpenDNS shirts! And, you can find our SysAdmin shirts, which debuted to rave reviews at our SysAdmin Appreciation Party last July. Hint: They're a great gift for the SysAdmin who had your back the last time the servers crashed. If you're not in the market for new gear, just head on over and meet some of our models. Our employees, friends and family members were kind enough to pose for pictures while wearing the new threads. By the way, we're only charging what we pay for the shirts, so prices are low. Of course, if you're looking to snag some free gear, keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter updates. We're always asking trivia questions and giving away free apparel there. | | | | | | | | | | | Meet an OpenDNSer: Jessica Gadling | | | | | | | | Meet Jessica Gadling, one of our incredibly talented software engineers. Jessica is a rockstar, and although engineering can be a bit of a boys club, she's certainly made a splash around here! Lately she's been spending her time improving and optimizing our website, making sure that you have the best experience possible when you visit OpenDNS.com, whether you're updating your settings or posting in the forums. Get to know her better: We've introduced a lot of our engineers in the newsletter and they all have one thing in common: Very cool hobbies! Tell us about yours:
JG: I've been keeping saltwater aquariums for nearly ten years now. I think of growing corals as a form of extreme gardening, since they require very particular conditions, but it's so rewarding to watch a tiny coral fragment grow into a large bouquet-shaped colony. I also really like making things, from websites to furniture to cookies. I spend a lot of time at a really cool place called TechShop, where you can borrow tools and equiptment and get advice from fellow crafters. Your husband is also a software engineer. Do you ever get competitive?
JG: Because of the nature of our work, it seems like we are always talking about computer and Internet stuff at home. But, instead of competing we end up collaborating. A lot of the software and problems he encounters at work are similar to what I see at OpenDNS. It works out that we can help each other track down bugs and improve each other's projects. You commute quite a ways to work at OpenDNS. What is it about OpenDNS that makes the trip worthwhile?
First and foremost, it's so great to work on projects that literally impact millions of people every day. The perks are nice — I like making Mochas in the kitchen and enjoying the amazing restaurants and shops nearby — but it's my coworkers that are definitely the best part of the job. Plus reading books (the real kind, made of paper) makes the time on the train fly by. P.S. OpenDNS is hiring like crazy. Come work with Jessica and help make the Internet safer with innovative new technology. | | | | | | | | | | February Home | | | Total Submissions to PhishTank 1,338,373 |
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