How to Use DNS to Help Protect Your Family Online
Today’s topic is, I think, an important one—and something that many families wrestle with: how do I keep my kids (and the rest of my household) safe online?
The answer to that question has a number of layers to it. There's education, communication, boundaries, and monitoring involved. But today, we’re going to tackle just one part of that many-headed dragon: limiting access to inappropriate or dangerous content.
As amazing (and nowadays almost essential) as the internet is, it’s far too easy to stumble into the wrong corner of it—sometimes without even trying. Maybe you've searched an innocent phrase only to discover it had alternative meanings that are not even remotely close to what you were looking for. Now imagine what that’s like for a curious child who overhears something on TV or from a classmate and innocently decides to look it up. One search later, they’re exposed to something they weren’t age ready for, or worse, it's something they shouldn’t have even seen at all.
Whether you're a parent or a small business owner, putting up a basic layer of protection can go a long way. And the good news? It’s not that complicated.
A Quick Primer on DNS (Don’t Worry, It’s Simple)
Let’s start with the basics. Every time you visit a website, like google.com, your device needs to figure out the actual location of that site on the internet. That location is an IP address—a series of numbers like 142.250.190.14.
But you can't and don’t want to remember that many numbers. So your device uses something called DNS—Domain Name System—to translate the website name into that IP address. Think of it like a phone book for the internet. Remember when phone books were still a thing? Yeah, me too! For those who never had a physical phone book, think contact list.
By default, your router probably uses the DNS servers provided by your ISP (internet service provider). But here’s the thing—you can change those DNS servers to ones that provide built-in protection.
For example, Cloudflare Family DNS is a free service that blocks access to adult content and known malicious sites. So if someone in your home tries to visit a site that's on one of those blocklists, the DNS simply won’t return the IP address. The request fails, and the site doesn’t load. Simple, quiet protection.
This won’t catch everything, and doesn't prevent kids from using functions like google images. It does however, prevent any images from those prohibited sites, and restricts your child accessing links to those known sites through google images. It’s not a substitute for good conversations and active parenting but it’s an excellent and easy first step. You've gotta start somewhere.
How to Set Up Cloudflare Family DNS on Your Home Router
Alright, let’s get to the practical part.
Step 1: Find Your Router’s Gateway IP Address
Your router is what connects all your home devices to the internet, and it has a special local IP address—this is what you’ll use to access its settings.
- On a Windows PC:
- Click the Start Menu and type "Network & Internet Settings". Click on your active network (WiFi or Ethernet), and look for “IPv4 Default Gateway”. That’s your router’s IP.
- On a smartphone:
- Go into your WiFi settings, tap the connected network, and look for a field called “Gateway” or “Router”. Same idea.
Step 2: Log In to Your Router
Open a browser and type that IP address into the address bar. It should bring up a login page for your router.
- Tip: The default username and password are often printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of the router. If not, check any documentation from your ISP—or that magnet on your fridge!
Step 3: Find the DNS Settings
Every router interface is a bit different, but you're usually looking for a section labeled something like:
- WAN Settings
- Internet Settings
- Network Settings
- Advanced Settings
- Or even just DNS Settings
If your router has a search bar in the interface, try typing “DNS” to find the section faster.
Step 4: Change the DNS to Cloudflare Family
Once you find the DNS settings, replace the current values with these:
- Primary DNS:
1.1.1.3 - Secondary DNS:
1.0.0.3
These are Cloudflare’s Family DNS servers. They block access to adult content and malware. For more details, check out Cloudflare’s official announcement.
There are other services you could try too:
- CleanBrowsing – Offers family and adult filtering options:
185.228.168.168 - OpenDNS Family Shield – A Cisco-owned service that blocks adult content automatically:
208.67.222.123
But I personally like Cloudflare’s option for its speed, reliability, and ease of use.
Step 5: Save and Reboot
Once you've entered the new DNS values, save the settings. You may need to reboot your router for the changes to take effect. After that, all devices using your home network will benefit from this layer of filtering—automatically.
Final Thoughts
Setting this up doesn’t mean your kids are now fully protected online—no DNS service can do that. But it’s a smart, quiet filter that catches a lot of the low-hanging fruit. Combined with regular conversations and some digital awareness, it’s a strong first step in building a safer online environment at home.
Feel free to contact me if you have questions or need a hand with this. Stay safe out there!