Filter specific youtube content

[stevenjwilliams83]

Is this possible with the paid subscription for opendns? 

[pcolford]

Hello,

Unfortunately not. Because all YouTube channels use the same domain (youtube.com) and because our service only blocks domains or subdomains, there's no way to block specific channels or videos on YouTube with our service, paid or free.

Let us know if you have any other questions!

[stevenjwilliams83]

Is there a cloud based product that does do it?

[rotblitz]

Yes, Restricted / Safety Mode and SafeSearch.

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/174084?hl=en
http://www.safesearchkids.com/youtube-parental-controls/
https://www.youtube.com/user/safesearchkids

[jong427]

Why doesn't open dns make use of youtube's own restrictive dns filters:

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6214622?hl=en

[rotblitz]

Because OpenDNS as DNS service can filter based on domain names only, and with YouTube (= Google) all content is shared across their domains.  There is no way to technically differenciate content by domain name.

And why should a 3rd party make use of something which is already being offered by YouTube?  That would be doubling the feature unnecessarily.

Read also https://support.opendns.com/hc/en-us/articles/227986807

[jong427]

I've effectively implemented the YouTube restrictive filter via my router, by using custom dns entries... not exactly the same as the cname approach they outline.  It is something that could also be easily done via open dns if they chose to do so...  my router based approach required me to figure out the IP address of the restricted server and map the various domains to that. If Google/YouTube change the IP, I'll need to update my local dns mapping.

if open dns added this to their offering it would be simpler to administrate. It would also be much easier for the vast majority of non-technical folks to make use of.

[rotblitz]

Well, I'll tell you why OpenDNS doesn't make use of this.  It is a security measure, because they strictly deny to redirect to any 3rd party domains which would be the case for the CNAME approaches of Google and YouTube.  They only reference what is returned by the authoritative nameservers and their own domains (for blocking purposes), because this is what they have control over, not so over redirections to 3rd party domains. (However, there are other DNS services not having these concerns and offering the SafeSearch feature.)

"It is something that could also be easily done via open dns if they chose to do so..."

Technically, maybe.

"If Google/YouTube change the IP, I'll need to update my local dns mapping."

Well, OpenDNS had this problem as well...  Maybe another good reason they won't do it.

[aztrix551]

Hey jong427

I'm really new to this. Can I ask how you were able to do custom dns entries from your router for youtube?

TIA

[mattwilson9090]

@aztrix55 It all depends on the capabilities of the router. Some routers have their own configurable DNS server, generally DNSMasq, but those routers are usually running 3rd party firmware rather than the firmware that ships from the manufacturer.

You would need to consult the manual for your router to find out if it is able to do this, and how. If you are using 3rd party firmware on your router (you would know it if you were) consult the community forum for that router.

[kevincol]

It's crazy that it requires a user to setup a local DNS to enable YouTube restricted access. (https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6214622?hl=en).  There is probably .01% of the worlds population that could figure out how to do that and less than that that have a home network.  You can't do this via HOST on a local computer like you can for Google SafeSearch either.  

Posters that don't work for OpenDNS keep stating why OpenDNS can't/shouldn't do this but fail to acknowledge that it is a problem and/or a workaround outside of consistently arguing why OpenDNS shouldn't support it.  

What would be helpful is a solution that at least 50% of home network users could implement on their network.  

[rotblitz]

"You can't do this via HOST on a local computer"

You can!  It's just one line.

Either strict mode:

216.239.38.120 www.youtube.com m.youtube.com youtubei.googleapis.com youtube.googleapis.com www.youtube-nocookie.com

Or moderate mode:

216.239.38.119 www.youtube.com m.youtube.com youtubei.googleapis.com youtube.googleapis.com www.youtube-nocookie.com

"What would be helpful is a solution that at least 50% of home network users could implement on their network."

Good approach!  Tell it Google/YouTube!

[nathkent]

Hello, I am not sure where this line for moderate mode should go. i have a netgear router DGN2200 and I can t find anywhere an option for a CNAME. Anychance you could help? regards

[mattwilson9090]

You would need to consult your router's manual or the netgear forum. As it is, the two options that rotblitz provided were two approaches for modifying the HOSTS file, not a CNAME entry.

HOSTS or CNAME it's outside of the scope of what OpenDNS does or supports, or than sharing the information that Google publishes on how to force things such as SafeSearch

[nathkent]

thnaks for the quick reply. Unfortunately, I am not a exert in router configuration adn have no idea how to modify the HOSTS file oon the  router. thanks