Filtering: What should I expect?

[gluten]

I've got OpenDNS set up on our home router at the moderate level and the test sites affirm that it's working. However, if I just go to Google and search "sex" with SafeSearch off, porn images come up and readily take me right to the porn websites. Is this normal behavior, or am I expecting too much?

[rotblitz]

Google's domains are not categorized as pornography.  If you want to block Google, you select e.g. the category Search Engines.

If the domains of the websites being linked to by Google seach results are not being categorized, you submit them here for the related categoriy.
https://community.opendns.com/domaintagging/submit/

[gluten]

So, if I understand you correctly, my two choices are to block Google searches entirely, or to submit individual domains to be included in a blocked category.

[rotblitz]

No, you don't need to block Google entirely.  You have a choice which is unrelated to OpenDNS.  This is utilizing Google's SafeSearch.  https://support.opendns.com/hc/en-us/articles/227986807

[gluten]

I appreciate the information! I can't get past the first step though. How do I add a new CNAME record?

[rotblitz]

You add DNS records in your DNS server if you have one.  Alternatively use the proposal with the local hosts file.

[gluten]

I apologize; this is not my area of expertise. How do I know if I have a DNS server?

[rotblitz]

If you don't know, it is likely that you don't have a DNS server, else you would know.  Some advanced routers and also NASes may have a DNS server built in, so you may check your user manuals for it.

You can have a free DNS server by running a free DNS server distro on e.g. a computer which is always on.  This can be an old computer which you still have but didn't use anymore, or a computer which runs all time anyway.