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Technology Preview: DNSCrypt for Windows has arrived

OpenDNS-Invented DNSCrypt, the game-changing technology that fundamentally fills a gaping hole in Internet security, is now available to Windows users. This release is monumental: The availability of DNSCrypt to Windows users means that millions of people around the world now have access to a revolutionary level of security and privacy. But be warned: this is a technology preview so there may still be bugs.

Before DNSCrypt was available, people using the public Wi-Fi in coffee shops, airports, hotel lobbies and other places were highly vulnerable because of a critical flaw in the DNS. Cyber criminals and even ISPs could see what you were doing online and spy, spoof or conduct man-in-the-middle attacks. DNSCrypt changes everything. Put simply, DNSCrypt hides the communication between your computer or tablet and our servers while you’re browsing the Web, giving you heightened privacy and security.

The delivery of DNSCrypt for Windows marks a massive milestone for Internet security across the globe and a huge win for personal privacy - and we’re just getting started. With the rise of mobile computing, this is an area where you’ll see a great deal of innovation from us. Download the lightweight DNSCrypt for Windows technology here and share your thoughts with us on the blog today.

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Call for nominations: The 2012 OpenDNS SysAdmin Awards

SysAdmin Appreciation Month (why should they get just one day?) is just around the corner and we’ve decided it’s time to declare this as fact: SysAdmins, IT Pros and Information Security experts are the unsung heros of the workplace. They keep our networks safe and fast, quietly prevent disasters and outages and they rarely receive the accolades they deserve. To celebrate our favorite IT superheroes, OpenDNS is proud to announce the 2012 OpenDNS SysAdmin Awards!

This year’s program is better than ever. We’ve added some great new categories, including The PEBKAC Award for support heros and The Doing More with Less Award for K-12 schools and non-profit network managers. Of course, the humble SysAdmin knows his or her story better than anyone, so we always encourage self-nominations. But, we’ve also made it easier-than-ever for everyone to acknowledge the SysAdmin, network operator or IT person in their office. We created a special category that doesn’t require any technical details, just thoughts on why your IT guy or gal is the IT Person of the Year.

Since our SysAdmins always seem to be in on a joke no one else understands, we've been inspired to host our first annual SysAdmin Meme Caption Contest. Simply caption our photo for a chance to receive a $100 gift card! Get full details on the 2012 OpenDNS SysAdmin Awards and apply today.

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Thank you: OpenDNS is now 50 million users strong

The OpenDNS community is now more than 50 million users strong. We’re humbled by the fact that OpenDNS is chosen by so many people around the world — from our home base in San Francisco to some of the planet’s furthest reaches — for a safer and more reliable Internet. OpenDNS is now used at 1 in 3 U.S. public schools, is running on half of all college and university campuses and can be found in hundreds of thousands of businesses and homes.

We couldn’t be more excited about this tremendous milestone, and as our service and company continue to grow, we want to make you a promise: we’ll never lose sight that this is your OpenDNS and we’ll never stop innovating new ways to make the Internet better.

We know that the work you do to help us spread OpenDNS is an integral part of our growth and we couldn’t be more appreciative. Thank you for doing what you do: Giving presentations, setting up the service for friends and family members, writing blog posts, sharing widely on Facebook and Twitter (#SpreadOpenDNS), sporting t-shirts and putting stickers on your laptops. It’s because of you, our users that we can boast this monumental milestone - and we don’t take that lightly. Keep up the good work OpenDNS community!

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Give Dad a Safer Internet

Dads are awesome. Sure, they gave us a hard time when we stayed out too late as teenagers or accidentally mowed over their prize tomatoes, and we may have heard Pop’s story about the big fish that got away one too many times, but the truth is, they’ve taught us a whole lot about life. So, we figured now is the perfect time to give back. Set up OpenDNS for Dad and give him the safer, faster, smarter and more reliable Internet you love.

We know that it can be challenging to explain OpenDNS (trust us, we have parents, too) so we made the process as easy as possible on you. We created a way for you to send Dad an email that lets him know you’re planning to set-up OpenDNS and provides a little information about the service. We’re sure he’ll appreciate the phishing protection, faster and more reliable Internet and grandkid-friendly customization options. And you’ll have peace of mind knowing Dad is safe online.

Send dad a special message about OpenDNS today.

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Flame malware: From research to protection, we've got you covered

For the past several weeks, our CTO Dan Hubbard and the security experts at OpenDNS have been working closely with the research team at Kaspersky Lab to better understand Flame, the complex malware toolkit infecting targeted systems in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan and other Middle Eastern and North African states. 

OpenDNS users are now automatically protected from Flame malware in additional to other large-scale Internet threats like Flashback and Conficker. As the world’s largest Internet security network and DNS provider we're in the perfect position to decipher malware like Flame and gain unique insights into where the malware's infections are and, potentially, what it aims to do. This helps us stay ahead of the curve so we can continue to be proactive in our efforts to protect you and the people you care about. 

Take a closer look at Flame malware through the lens of our security researchers in this interactive timeline and infographic and share your feedback with us in the comments.