most effective FREE internet filter

Having 2 kinds of computers at home (PC and Mac), I needed an internet filter that would block adult porn websites and other stuff littering cyberspace. Many of the filters are software-based, which would not work cross-platform, and/or require a whole different Internet provider, with a monthly or annual subscription fee of some kind.

About a month ago, I found this FREE web service that works at the DNS service level of your wireless access point (WAP) or router. It’s called OpenDNS . You could also configure your local PC’s internet DNS configuration too, for the times you’re using a wifi hotspot elsewhere, and get your web content filtered, too.

To give credit where credit is due, I found out about it reading another discussion forum (or a blog?), I forget where exactly. There was a church providing free wifi in its lounge, and needed to find a way to have it filtered. I’ve been using OpenDNS at home for over a month now, and it works great!!

Side note for the cynical, suspicous, or curious: here’s how OpenDNS can provide this service for free.