How do I disable OpenDNS Updater?

[steve.elmer]

Hi,

Is there a way to disable OpenDNS Updater, or to configure it to only run manually rather than automatically when I start my computer.  I have a laptop and use it out in the world more often than at home.  At home, everything is good: I start my computer and Updater pops up and updates my network ip address with my home ip address.  Sadly, though, when I am out in the world, I start my computer and Updater pops up and now updates my ip with the ip of whatever random network I happen to be on.  Surely there must be a way to disable this automatic launch on startup and only run it manually.  Isn't there?  

Please help!

Thanks,
Steve

[rotblitz]

In the Updater settings you check "Disable sending IP updates".
See https://support.opendns.com/hc/en-us/articles/227987807

Want to have it automatically?  Then you would have to use Marc's Updater instead which allows to restrict updates from certain networks based on DHCP server or WLAN SSID.

[steve.elmer]

Thanks. This is a helpful workaround. How do I prevent the darned thing from starting up when I log into my computer? I have looked all over my machine for something that tells this to launch when I start my machine.

[rotblitz]

"This is a helpful workaround."

No workaround, but the ultimate solution in your case.  Marc's Updater was the original official OpenDNS Updater.  However, OpenDNS decided to build their own later on, apparently to simplify usage and minimize support.  The downside of this simplification is that it doesn't have features for all more complex cases.  This is where Marc's and other Updaters come into the game.

"I have looked all over my machine for something that tells this to launch when I start my machine."

It doesn't start with the machine, just when the user logs in who has installed the program.

This auto-start is in the usual HKCU auto-run tree of the registry.  Useless to delete this registry entry.  The Updater will register itself again at any program start.

That said, if you don't want to have it started when you login, you better uninstall the program.

[steve.elmer]

Thanks.  Yes, workaround in the sense that I can "Disable Sending IP Updates" and then, when I want to manually execute it, I can then enable the ip updates, stop and restart the updater to send the ip update, then disable ip updates, and close the thing back down again (or leave it running - no matter).

Seems odd to me that they would build something in which you cant disable it's automatic startup.  Oh well.

I will investigate Marc's Updater.

Thanks for your help.

[rotblitz]

"Seems odd to me that they would build something in which you cant disable it's automatic startup."

They thought about a normal PC, not about roaming laptops.  And they had good reasons to think so.  If a device with an Updater installed on it leaves its network, it not only risks to update your dashboard with the wrong IP addresses, you also lose the capability to keep your home network's IP address updated at OpenDNS with no Updater being present any longer.  Therefore its not a good idea to have an Updater on a roaming device.

The ultimate solution here is to either run an Updater on a computer which is always switched on in this network, or to run a built-in Updater of another networking device like a router, NAS, DVR, IP camera, etc. which is also running all the time within this network.  I for myself use my router's DDNS update client for this.

[steve.elmer]

Thanks.  I'll check if my router has some sort of DDNS update built into it.  That would be my favorite solution.

[trdrvr2]

These are supposed to be used on stationary devices to start with. So to use it on laptop that travels with you constantly is not a good "best practice" as it were. Otherwise use marc's updater instead it has more controllable features. BTW if any of your routers are like mine, there is no support for opendns or dns-o-matic