OpenDNS Unveils Major Upgrades to Statistics System, Provides Botnet Protection Service and Actionable Network Insight

Leading DNS infrastructure and security provider announces new account statistics functionality, giving network administrators even more insight into network activity.

San Francisco (PRWEB) February 9, 2009 -- OpenDNS, provider of the award-winning service that makes the Internet safer, faster, smarter and more reliable, today announced a series of new functionalities for its robust network statistics system. OpenDNS network statistics are rich with data that provides network administrators insight into what is happening on their network, from traffic patterns to malware, coupled with tools to take action.

The enhancements to the OpenDNS statistics system include the addition of the much-anticipated Top Domains feature, which allows network administrators the ability to monitor all domains visited from within their network. Further, Top Domains is now integrated with the OpenDNS Web content filtering system, and provides the ability to manage blocking preferences directly from the Top Domains list. This new integration empowers network administrators to spot trends before they become problems and immediately take action, blocking Web sites or categories of Web sites appearing in their network statistics they deem inappropriate.

Also announced today is the new OpenDNS Botnet Protection feature, and its timely use to fight the Conficker virus. Conficker, also known as Downadup, uses a set of seemingly random domain names as a meeting place for the virus to exchange data with its author, such as how many new machines each host has brought into the botnet, or details on any code upgrades or attacks the owner wants to take place. These domain names are generated using an algorithm so they change every day, making traditional methods like revoking domain registrations used by botnet authors ineffective. OpenDNS and leading anti-virus company Kaspersky Lab have teamed to identify whether the virus has penetrated an OpenDNS users' network, and stop resolving the domain names the virus is using. This effort effectively prevents the virus from causing damage, and the new OpenDNS stats system immediately alerts the network administrator.

"The OpenDNS stats system and its recent enhancements provide invaluable tools to those tasked with operating a network and spotting trends before they become problematic," said OpenDNS Founder and CTO David Ulevitch. "To be able to see that a certain Web site - which consumes a disproportionate amount of bandwidth - is among the most visited, or that Conficker has managed to penetrate the network, is extremely helpful to any network administrator."

About OpenDNS
OpenDNS is the leading provider of free security and infrastructure services that make the Internet safer through integrated Web content filtering, anti-phishing and DNS. OpenDNS services enable consumers and network administrators to secure their networks from online threats, reduce costs and enforce Internet-use policies. OpenDNS is used today by millions of users and organizations around the world. For more information about OpenDNS, please visit: www.opendns.com.

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