OpenDNS and IWF URL List

[jclc]

Hi,

I'm testing out OpenDNS filtering on the school network where I work. It is a very small school of <15 pupils, but we nonetheless need to be compliant with legal regulations on internet filtering in schools.

One of the requirements is that the filtering must include the IWF (Internet Watch Foundation) URL list of blocked websites. This is a regularly updated list of websites containing exploitative images of children. The IWF website implies that OpenDNS does indeed block these sites, but I can't find any mention of it in OpenDNS documentation or in the support forum (unless I'm being stupid).

Can anyone please confirm whether OpenDNS blocks the IWF URL list?

Thank you!

[mattwilson9090]

That's a very good question. Unfortunately, while OpenDNS staff does monitor this forum, they don't often post here.

Your best bet might be to open a support ticket to ask this question. If you do, please respond back to this thread with the answer.

[rotblitz]

Further, OpenDNS Home versions are for home use only, not for organizations.  You'll want to subscribe to a paid service like Cisco (OpenDNS) Umbrella.
https://umbrella.cisco.com/use-cases/k-12

And yes, I'm pretty confident that OpenDNS can block access to domains where related URLs point to and related content is hosted on if you configured it this way at your dashboard.  OpenDNS blocks nothing of this kind by default, of course, just like any other DNS service.

Also, OpenDNS does not and cannot block URLs, because this and any other objects like pages, images, videos, etc. are out of scope for any DNS service.  They only know about domain names (where content is hosted on).

"I can't find any mention of it in OpenDNS documentation"

I can.  See https://umbrella.cisco.com/use-cases/web-filtering

Our 60+ content categories empower you to enforce acceptable Web use to comply with internal policies or external regulations such as CIPA. We are also a member of the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), enabling you to block their list of child sexual abuse.

And yes, follow the recommendation of mattwilson9090 to raise a ticket.  You must contact them anyway to receive a quote.