This article shows you how to access a website blocked by the security service offered by OpenDNS. The easiest and quickest way to solve the problem is to use a proxy service, but if the computer you are using blocks access to any web proxy, the solution may be to use the portable version of the Internet browser Tor.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Basic Solutions
Step 1. Understand what are the solutions that cannot be adopted in this scenario
Most web services for access control and filtering can be easily bypassed by using the mobile version of the website you want to access or by entering the IP address of the website directly without using the URL. OpenDNS makes using these simple solutions useless, so you may need to try different methods to solve your problem.
Step 2. Connect directly to the modem that manages the internet connection
If you have the ability to connect your computer directly to the network modem via an Ethernet cable, you can bypass the restrictions imposed by the OpenDNS service. Remember that applying this solution in a work or school setting most likely means breaking specific internal rules that will force you to deal with very serious problems.
- Normally the modem and the network router are not integrated into one device. However, if in your case the modem and the network router are represented by the same device, this solution will most likely not work.
- This solution is much more effective in home environments, where restrictions are managed through the OpenDNS "parental control" feature.
Step 3. Use your smartphone's data connection
If you have an iPhone or Android device and your rate plan supports "tethering", you can share your cellular data connection as a Wi-Fi network.
- The article referenced by the link in the header of the passage refers to using the data connection of a smartphone via a laptop. However, using any desktop computer the process is identical.
- If the computer on which the OpenDNS restrictions are active does not allow you to select the Wi-Fi network to connect to, you will not be able to adopt this solution.
Step 4. Use a VPN connection
The VPN network protocol (from the English Virtual Private Networks) is used to route data traffic to the internet through a protected network of servers around the globe, in order to make your web activity completely anonymous. This way entities like OpenDNS will not be able to know which sites you are visiting. However, most VPN services require a paid subscription and your computer most likely won't allow you to change network settings without having system administrator rights.
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One free VPN service is Hotspot Shield. If you have the possibility to install the relative client on the computer on which the OpenDNS restrictions are active, you will be able to surf the web completely anonymously and you will be able to access any site.
You can decide to download the Hotspot Shield installation file to a USB stick and then install it on the target computer
Method 2 of 3: Use a Web Proxy Service
Step 1. Log in to a website that offers the proxy server service
Here is a list of the most known and used:
- Hide. Me -
- ProxySite -
- ProxFree -
- Whoer -
- Hidester -
- To be able to find a proxy server that can circumvent the limitations imposed by OpenDNS you may need to test several.
- If none of the proxy servers listed work for you, try searching online using the following string best online proxy servers 2018 (or a similar combination).
Step 2. Select the search bar of the site you have chosen to use
It is normally placed exactly in the center of the main page of the site, but if you have chosen the ProxFree service, you will find it at the bottom of the browser window.
The search bar of these sites works exactly like the address bar of any internet browser
Step 3. Enter the URL of the website you wish to access
Type the address of the blocked site (for example www.facebook.com) into the search bar indicated in the previous step.
Step 4. Press the Go button
The appearance of this element varies slightly from site to site (for example it could be characterized by the wording Browse anonymously). However it should be placed to the right or below the bar where you entered the URL to display.
- If you are using the ProxFree web service, you will need to press the blue button PROXFREE.
- Alternatively, simply press the Enter key on your keyboard.
Step 5. Browse the web as you normally do
The requested site should appear within the chosen proxy service page, however the loading time may take longer than normal due to the physical distance that separates the proxy server in use from your location.
Method 3 of 3: Use the Tor Browser
Step 1. Make sure you meet the requirements to be able to adopt this solution
In order to use Tor on the computer on which OpenDNS restrictions are active, you will need to install it on a USB stick which you will then need to connect to the computer in question. To be able to carry out this procedure, certain conditions must be met:
- The target computer must have at least one free USB port;
- The computer you want to use Tor on must allow access to a USB memory drive and execution of files from it;
- Tor (or the browser you have chosen to use) must be installed directly on the USB stick and not simply be stored on the USB stick.
Step 2. Connect the USB drive to the computer under test
Plug it into a free USB port on your computer.
To install Tor on your USB drive, consider using a normal, unrestricted computer, such as the one you normally use in your home
Step 3. Log in to the Tor website
Use the browser of your choice and the following URL https://www.torproject.org/download/download-easy.html.en. This is the web page where you can download the Tor installation file. The latter is an internet browser that integrates a proxy server.
Contrary to what many people think, installing and using Tor is absolutely not dangerous for the integrity of your data and hardware, obviously as long as you use it legally (as long as you use it to surf the web normally it will be like using any other internet browser)
Step 4. Press the DOWNLOAD button
It is purple in color and is positioned in the center of the web page that has appeared. The Tor installation file will be downloaded directly to your computer.
If you are asked to select a destination folder to save the file, directly choose the USB drive you will use for the installation and skip the next step
Step 5. Transfer the Tor installation file to the target USB drive
Navigate to the folder where it was saved and follow these instructions:
- Select the file with a single mouse click;
- Press the key combination Ctrl + X (on Windows systems) or ⌘ Command + X (on Mac) to copy the file and remove it from the current folder;
- Select the target USB drive icon located inside the left sidebar of the window;
- Select an empty spot in the window for the chosen USB drive;
- Press the key combination Ctrl + V (on Windows systems) or ⌘ Command + V (on Mac) to move the file within the USB drive.
Step 6. Install Tor on the USB stick of your choice
You can do this by selecting the latter as the destination folder during the program installation procedure. Follow these instructions:
- Windows systems - double-click the Tor installation file. It is an executable (EXE) file. Choose the language you want to use and press the button OK. Push the button Browse …, select the target USB drive icon and press the button OK. At this point, press the button Install, select both check buttons visible within the window and press the button end when required.
- Mac - select the Tor DMG file with a double click of the mouse, authorize the installation if necessary and follow the instructions that will appear on the screen.
Step 7. Eject the USB drive from the system
When the Tor installation is complete, you will be able to remove the USB drive from your computer using its wizard. Now that Tor is installed on the USB stick under consideration you should be able to use it on the computer running OpenDNS restrictions and browse the web without any problems.
Step 8. Connect the USB stick to the target computer
This is the system on which the OpenDNS restrictions are active that prevent you from accessing the websites you wish to visit.
Step 9. Start Tor
Access the USB stick on which it is installed, select the "Tor Browser" folder with a double click of the mouse, then select the green and purple icon named "Start Tor Browser" with a double click of the mouse. The Tor launcher window should appear.
Step 10. Press the Connect button
It is located at the bottom of the appeared window. After a few moments the browser window should appear.
Tor looks a lot like one of the old versions of Firefox
Step 11. Log in to the site you want to visit
Use the text field located in the center of the Tor window to enter the URL you want to access. Since Tor uses a proprietary proxy server for web browsing you should be able to reach the requested site (and any other) without any problem.
Remember that the loading time of web pages will be longer than normal due to the fact that the data traffic to the internet will be rerouted through a series of different servers
Advice
There are thousands of proxy services available online that are safe and reliable, so the chances of OpenDNS being able to block access to any of them are very low. If the first options you considered didn't work for you, don't give up and keep looking
Warnings
- When using a proxy service, be very careful about providing personal or sensitive information. This information will be sent to the proxy server in use and will be visible to anyone who manages this facility. For this reason, you should avoid using information such as your social security number or credentials to access your e-mail account while connected to a proxy server.
- OpenDNS is much more efficient and robust than most other web services for access control and filtering. For this reason, the simplest methods to circumvent related restrictions, such as using a website version for mobile devices or using a different DNS server, are often not sufficient solutions to access a blocked website.
