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In This Issue
- Can you spot a phish? Take our quiz and find out!
- Take OpenDNS home for the holidays
- Check out the new OpenDNS.com
- Meet an OpenDNSer: Frank Denis
- Customer spotlight: Eastern Mountain Sports
Can you spot a phish? Take our quiz and find out!
As the holiday season kicks into full gear, and online shopping skyrockets, it's more important than ever to stay ahead of online scams. But as technology improves, it's getting more difficult to detect the difference between real websites and scams. That's why we created the OpenDNS Phishing Quiz. Phishing is when cyber criminals try to lure your personal information, like credit card numbers or login credentials, by masquerading as a trusted entity.
The quiz is designed to help you determine how good you are at identifying online phishing scams. But we know OpenDNS users are top-notch when it comes to spotting a scam. So, while we tried to make the quiz challenging for our security savvy users, we also added features that will make it a helpful tool to share with family and friends who could benefit from an overview on phishing.
Take the quiz now and then compare scores with friends and family. If someone you know didn't do very well, make sure they're protected by helping them set up OpenDNS. As you know, OpenDNS takes the guesswork out of identifying phishing scams by automatically blocking questionable sites, so your loved ones will be safe no matter what.
Good luck!
Take OpenDNS home for the holidays
Gift giving can be tough. We all have stories about visiting four stores to find the must-have toy of the season just to have our kids spend hours playing with the box it came in. Or, about getting Dad that GPS device that (five years later) still hasn't made it into his car.
That's why this year we're recommending you give your friends and family a gift that will keep them feeling safe and happy all year long. We're talking about helping them set up OpenDNS, of course. As an experienced user you know it can be up and running in no time at all. Imagine the security you can give your loved ones with just a few simple clicks.
So when you're visiting family and friends, take a few minutes to set up OpenDNS on their router and help them configure desired settings for Web filtering or phishing protection. Or, include a link to set-up instructions in an annual family newsletter or e-greeting. This is one gift that no one is going to want to return.
Check out the new OpenDNS.com
Hey, we've been listening to you! Each month we get lots of advice from OpenDNS users, and frequently we hear that you'd like to see more tools and toys on OpenDNS.com that can help you teach friends about DNS and the exciting things we're doing around here. Well, have you visited OpenDNS.com lately? We think you'll like what you see!
The recently-remodeled OpenDNS.com now includes a flood of resources that can easily be shared and are straightforward enough that everyone can understand them. And they accomplish all sorts of neat stuff: From explaining DNS in a straightforward way to introducing our awesome showcase of customers to displaying the amount of DNS we handle per month, week and even per second. There's also a network map that that shows which of our 12 datacenters you're talking to and - perhaps more importantly - what exactly that means.
So take a tour and let us know what you think. We're excited to hear your feedback.
Meet an OpenDNSer: Frank Denis
OpenDNS is on a non-stop innovation campaign, and we've got the brightest minds in the business creating exciting technological firsts every day. Frank Denis is one of the geniuses behind our latest security project (DNSCrypt) among other legendary Internet inventions. Read on to find out what keeps Frank moving.
You're known as a trailblazer in the security community. How did you get started in technology and security?
I learned how to program by cracking games on Atari and hacking my sister's scientific calculator. In high school I was poking around our school's network and discovered some security vulnerabilities. I quickly realized that the fun was in discovering flaws, not using them to my own advantage. I went to work as a security consultant to show large corporations how everything from weak passwords to conversations around the coffee machine could be damaging, and helped them improve. Now I work on the other side, as a developer creating new technologies to make the Internet safer.
You've been in San Francisco for five months and you've already worn through three pairs of sneakers. How is that possible?
I love to walk, run and hike. I walk about 45 minutes to work each day. In fact, since I've been here, I've never taken a bus or taxi. One of my favorite hobbies is geocaching, a modern-day treasure hunt using a GPS device. The basic idea is that you use your GPS-enabled phone or device to find cache boxes that are hidden at specific coordinates. It makes running around the city very exciting, and it's a fantastic way to discover new places and trails and meet new people.
You're our resident French translator but your multilingual abilities don't stop there. What else do you speak fluently?
My first language is French, but I am constantly experimenting with new languages. Programming languages, that is. My English is terrible (*Editor's note: We disagree!) but I'm fluent in C, Ruby, Javascript and Erlang. I've written several articles for French computer magazines and a few books on Linux, but sadly they're only available in French. But, I wrote and maintain several pieces of open source software, which I love because anyone can see how it works and add features or functionality, creating common-ground between people from all different backgrounds who speak many different languages.
What is your favorite thing about working at OpenDNS?
OpenDNS is by far the coolest place I've ever worked. We have a fully-stocked kitchen, but that's only one of the kazillion things that happen daily that make me happy to come to work. I love that we are all working as a single team, rather than distinct departments that barely know what each other are doing. I've been a long-time OpenDNS user, too, so helping to grow something I believe in makes a huge difference.
P.S. OpenDNS is hiring like crazy.
Come work with Frank and help make the Internet safer with innovative new technology.
Customer spotlight: Eastern Mountain Sports
Whether you're preparing to hit the slopes and need equipment and lessons, or looking for the warmest long underwear to lounge in while cozying up in front of the fireplace, Eastern Mountain Sports is a trusted provider of top-quality gear that keeps millions of people protected from harsh winter elements. But who does Eastern Mountain Sports turn to when they need protection from today's malicious Internet climate?
OpenDNS of course! We're thrilled to announce that Eastern Mountain Sports is using OpenDNS to ensure customer data is protected and to "stop fixing malware and start preventing it."
Operating 67 stores across 12 U.S. states, Eastern Mountain Sports is using OpenDNS Enterprise to protect more than 1,500 people in the organization. Eastern Mountain Sports' IT Pros told us, "OpenDNS eliminates any chance that our employees can interact with a potential risk, keeping our sensitive information, including customer information, as safe as possible."
Are you using OpenDNS at work and want to share your story? We'd love to hear it. Email us.
