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OpenDNS protects a home network by filtering at the DNS resolution layer rather than on each device. You point your router (or individual devices) at OpenDNS resolver addresses, and every DNS lookup passes through OpenDNS, which blocks malicious domains and categories you choose to filter. Because the filtering happens before a connection is made, it covers phones, laptops, consoles, and smart TVs on the same network without installing software on each one. The trade-off: it only controls DNS-based access, so it does not inspect traffic or block direct-IP connections, and devices that bypass your configured resolver (for example, via a built-in DNS-over-HTTPS setting) may not be covered.

What OpenDNS actually does

OpenDNS is a DNS resolution service. When a device asks "what is the IP address for this domain?", OpenDNS answers — and it can refuse to answer for domains it classifies as malicious or as belonging to categories you have chosen to block.

According to OpenDNS's own site, the consumer product is "a suite of consumer products aimed at making your internet faster, safer, and more reliable." The two protection mechanisms it names are:

• Threat blocking — protection against malware, phishing, and ransomware domains (the site describes this capability in the context of Cisco Secure Access, the enterprise product line OpenDNS is now part of).
• Filtering and pre-configured protection — the site states you can "safeguard your family against adult content and more," and calls it "the easiest way to add parental and content filtering controls to every device in your home."

Why it covers every device without installing anything

The filtering decision is made by the DNS resolver, not by the device. That means:

1. You configure the OpenDNS resolver addresses once — typically on the router.
2. Every device that gets its DNS settings from the router now uses OpenDNS.
3. Blocked domains fail to resolve, so the page or app cannot load.

This is why the site says setup is easy and a "PhD in Computer Science [is] not required." There is no per-device client to install, update, or manage.

The published resolver addresses on the OpenDNS site are:

Setting it up: what to do and what to expect

Prerequisite: access to your router's admin settings, or the ability to change DNS settings on each device if you cannot change the router.

1. Log into your router's configuration page and find the DNS settings (often under WAN, Internet, or DHCP settings).
2. Enter the OpenDNS resolver addresses in place of your ISP's defaults.
3. Save and restart the router so connected devices pick up the new DNS settings.
4. Verify it works by visiting a domain you have chosen to block and confirming it does not load, or by checking your DNS status through the OpenDNS dashboard.
5. Create an OpenDNS account and register your network if you want to apply category filtering and parental controls rather than just the default protection.

Expected result: DNS lookups now go through OpenDNS, and domains matching your block rules stop resolving across all devices using the router's DNS.

Common sticking points

• Devices with their own DNS settings. A device configured to use a different resolver, or one using encrypted DNS (DNS-over-HTTPS/TLS) built into the browser or OS, may bypass your router's DNS setting.
• Router-level vs. device-level. If you cannot change the router, you must configure each device individually — which removes the main convenience of the approach.
• DNS filtering is not a full firewall. It blocks domain resolution, not traffic to a known IP address, and it does not scan content.
• Filtering requires an account. Default threat protection and custom category filtering are different levels of service; the site directs users to a dashboard and login for management.

The speed claim, and how to read it

OpenDNS says it "delivers faster, more reliable home internet" because of "global data centers and peering partnerships" that "shorten the routes between every network and our data centers." That is a routing argument, not a filtering feature — the benefit depends on whether OpenDNS's network is closer to you than your ISP's default resolver. It is worth testing your own latency before and after switching rather than assuming a speedup.

Who this fits

OpenDNS-style DNS filtering suits a household that wants broad, low-maintenance content and threat filtering across many devices — including devices that cannot run filtering apps, such as consoles and smart TVs. It is a poor fit if you need per-user policies, traffic inspection, or protection against threats that do not rely on a domain name.

OpenDNS is a free-to-use consumer DNS service that makes your home internet faster, safer, and more reliable by filtering content and blocking threats at the DNS level. Setup means pointing your router (or individual devices) at OpenDNS's public resolver addresses — 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 — and optionally creating a free account to enable content filtering and parental controls. It's designed to be quick and easy, and OpenDNS provides guides and a knowledge base if you get stuck.

What You Need Before You Start

• Access to your router's admin panel. You'll need the router's IP address (often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), plus the admin username and password. If you don't have these, check the label on the router or your ISP's documentation.
• The OpenDNS resolver addresses: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220.
• A free OpenDNS account (optional but recommended) if you want filtering, parental controls, and per-network settings.
• Your public IP address, which you'll register with OpenDNS if you want account-based filtering to apply to your home network.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Change DNS Settings on Your Router (Recommended)

Configuring the router covers every device on your network at once — phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs — without touching each one.

1. Log in to your router's admin panel.
2. Find the DNS settings section (often under WAN, Internet, or DHCP settings).
3. Replace the existing DNS servers with:
   • Primary: 208.67.222.222
   • Secondary: 208.67.220.220
4. Save and reboot the router if prompted.

Expected result: All devices using the router's DNS will now resolve through OpenDNS.

2. Or Change DNS on a Single Device

If you can't access the router or only want to protect one device, change the DNS settings in that device's network configuration instead. The exact menu varies by operating system, but the values you enter are the same two addresses above.

3. Create an OpenDNS Account and Register Your Network

1. Sign up for a free account at opendns.com.
2. Add your home network and enter your current public IP address.
3. Choose a filtering level — for example, pre-configured protection or custom content filtering for adult content and other categories.

Expected result: Your network's DNS traffic is now associated with your account, and your chosen filters apply.

4. Verify the Setup

Visit OpenDNS's welcome page in a browser. If the setup worked, you'll see a confirmation that you're using OpenDNS. If you registered your network, the page will recognize your account.

Common Snags

• Dynamic IP addresses. Many home ISPs change your public IP periodically, which breaks the link between your network and your OpenDNS account. Most routers support a dynamic DNS (DDNS) updater client, or you can run OpenDNS's own updater tool to keep the IP current.
• Router won't accept the settings. Some ISP-provided routers lock DNS fields. In that case, set DNS per device instead, or check whether your router supports custom DNS at all.
• Filters not applying. Confirm your public IP is registered and up to date, and that devices aren't bypassing the router's DNS (for example, via a hardcoded DNS or a VPN).
• Devices using their own DNS. Some browsers and apps use encrypted DNS (DoH) that bypasses router settings. You may need to disable that feature per device for filtering to work.

Why It's Worth the Effort

According to OpenDNS, the service shortens routes between your network and its global data centers through peering partnerships, which can make internet access faster. It also helps make the web safer by letting you safeguard your family against adult content and more, and it's described as the easiest way to add parental and content filtering controls to every device in your home. Setup is intentionally simple — as the site puts it, a PhD in Computer Science is not required, and helpful guides and a knowledge base are available if you need them.

For enterprise-level protection, OpenDNS now points to Cisco Secure Access, which guards against malware, phishing, and ransomware. Home users, however, are served by the consumer suite described here.

OpenDNS splits into two distinct tracks: an enterprise path now delivered through Cisco Secure Access, and a consumer suite aimed at homes and individuals. Choose the enterprise track if you're protecting an organization's devices and want threat protection against malware, phishing, and ransomware. Choose the consumer track if you want faster, safer home internet with content filtering across your household devices.

The Two Offerings at a Glance

The page frames these as separate destinations rather than tiers of one product, so the choice is about your use case, not your budget level.

Enterprise: Cisco Secure Access

OpenDNS is now part of Cisco, and the enterprise direction runs through Cisco Secure Access. According to the site, it "provides protection against threats on the internet such as malware, phishing, and ransomware."

This track is built for organizations and for MSPs and partners who serve them. If you're evaluating security for a company, school, or client base, this is the relevant offering — not the consumer suite.

Consumer: The OpenDNS Suite

The consumer side is described as "a suite of consumer products aimed at making your internet faster, safer, and more reliable." Three claims stand out:

• Speed and reliability — global data centers and peering partnerships shorten the routes between networks and OpenDNS data centers.
• Safety and filtering — filtering or pre-configured protection lets you block adult content and more, adding parental and content filtering controls to every device in your home.
• Easy setup — the site states setup is quick, with guides and a knowledge base, and that a "PhD in Computer Science" is not required.

If your goal is household-level filtering and a faster home connection, this is the track to follow.

How to Decide

Ask one question: who are you protecting?

• An organization, or clients as a partner → Enterprise (Cisco Secure Access), for threat protection against malware, phishing, and ransomware.
• Your own home and family → Consumer, for speed, reliability, and content filtering on every device.

The two tracks also differ in entry and support channels, so start from the section that matches your role: Enterprise or MSP & Partners for organizations, Consumer for individuals.

Where to Go Next

• Enterprise and partner inquiries: the Enterprise and MSP & Partners sections.
• Consumer setup and help: the Consumer section, plus the guides and knowledge base referenced on the page.
• General information: About Us, Support, and the login/dashboard links in the site navigation.

OpenDNS consumer DNS addresses listed on the page are 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220.

OpenDNS is a cloud-delivered DNS and security service that filters internet traffic before threats reach a device. It now operates as part of Cisco, with its enterprise protection folded into Cisco Secure Access and its consumer products still offered under the OpenDNS name. You'd use it if you want to block malware, phishing, and ransomware across a network, or add content filtering and faster DNS resolution to a home connection.

The core idea: security at the DNS layer

Every request to reach a website starts with a DNS lookup that translates a domain name into an IP address. OpenDNS answers those lookups from its own global network and decides, at that moment, whether to resolve the request or block it.

That means protection applies before a connection is made, and it works for any device that uses the service's DNS resolvers — no software install required on each machine.

What it does for enterprises

The enterprise side is now delivered through Cisco Secure Access, which the site describes as protection against internet threats such as malware, phishing, and ransomware. The pitch is predictive: stop attacks before they happen rather than only detecting them afterward.

Typical use case: a company points its network DNS at the service so that employees on any device, in any location, get the same filtering policy.

What it does for consumers

OpenDNS also offers a suite of consumer products aimed at making home internet faster, safer, and more reliable. Three claims from the site:

• Faster — global data centers and peering partnerships shorten the route between your network and the resolvers.
• Safer — filtering or pre-configured protection blocks adult content and similar categories, applied to every device in the home.
• Easy setup — the site states setup is quick and does not require advanced technical skill, with guides and a knowledge base to help.

How to start using it

1. Decide which side you need. Enterprise threat protection goes through Cisco Secure Access; home filtering and speed go through the consumer products.
2. Get the resolver addresses. The site lists 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220.
3. Point your network at them. Configure these as the DNS servers on your router (covers every device) or on a single device.
4. Set your filtering level. Consumer users choose a pre-configured protection level or custom categories; enterprise policies are managed through the dashboard.
5. Verify it works. After applying the change, confirm your device is resolving through OpenDNS and that a blocked category is actually blocked.

Things to watch for

• DNS alone isn't full protection. It filters by domain, so it won't inspect the contents of traffic the way a full secure web gateway does.
• Router-level changes affect everyone. Setting resolvers on the router applies your filtering policy to all devices on that network.
• The branding has shifted. OpenDNS is now part of Cisco, so enterprise documentation and dashboards increasingly live under Cisco Secure Access rather than the OpenDNS name.

Quick reference

For current plans, pricing, and account requirements, check the OpenDNS and Cisco Secure Access sites directly — those details aren't specified on the page referenced here.

OpenDNS's public DNS server addresses are 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220, and OpenDNS is now part of Cisco. You can use these two addresses to configure a device or router to route DNS queries through OpenDNS, and you can verify ownership and current product direction through the OpenDNS site's About, Support, and Dashboard links.

OpenDNS DNS server addresses

The OpenDNS site lists two public resolver addresses:

These are the addresses to enter when a device or router asks for primary and secondary DNS servers. The site presents them as the public-facing addresses for the service, not as a private or enterprise-only endpoint.

How to use them

1. Open the network or device settings where DNS servers are configured (router WAN/DHCP settings, or a computer's network adapter settings).
2. Enter 208.67.222.222 as the primary DNS server.
3. Enter 208.67.220.220 as the secondary DNS server.
4. Save the settings and reconnect the device or renew the DHCP lease so the new resolvers take effect.
5. Verify by checking the device's active DNS servers, or by visiting a DNS test page that reports which resolver answered the query.

Expected result: DNS lookups for devices on that network go through OpenDNS instead of the ISP's default resolvers. If the change does not appear to take effect, the common causes are a router that overrides manually set DNS, a device still holding an old DHCP lease, or a second network adapter with its own DNS settings.

Who owns OpenDNS

OpenDNS is now part of Cisco. The OpenDNS homepage states this directly and links to Cisco for more information. Practically, that means:

• The OpenDNS brand and consumer product suite continue to exist.
• Enterprise security capabilities are presented under Cisco Secure Access, which the site describes as providing protection against threats such as malware, phishing, and ransomware.
• The OpenDNS site still serves as an entry point for consumer products, support, and the dashboard.

What OpenDNS offers today

The site splits its offerings into two tracks:

Enterprise security

Cisco Secure Access is the enterprise-facing product, positioned as cloud-delivered protection against internet threats including malware, phishing, and ransomware. Organizations looking for the enterprise security capability should follow the Cisco Secure Access path rather than the consumer DNS addresses.

Consumer products

OpenDNS describes a suite of consumer products aimed at making internet faster, safer, and more reliable. The stated benefits are:

• Faster, more reliable home internet — the site attributes this to global data centers and peering partnerships that shorten routes between networks and OpenDNS data centers.
• Safer web browsing — filtering or pre-configured protection can block adult content and similar material, adding parental and content filtering controls to every device in the home.
• Easy setup — the site says setup is quick and does not require advanced technical knowledge, with guides and a knowledge base available.

Where to go for more information

The OpenDNS site provides several entry points:

• About Us — company and ownership information.
• Support — help guides and knowledge base.
• Dashboard — account and configuration management.
• Login — access to the dashboard for existing users.

If your goal is simply to point a home network at OpenDNS resolvers, the two addresses above are all you need. If your goal is enterprise threat protection, the relevant product is Cisco Secure Access, and the OpenDNS site is the starting point for reaching it.