Is there an IP Updater for OpenDNS using android
Is there an IP Updater for OpenDNS using android ?
Maybe someone can make an IP Updater app for android. We can always update the dynamic IP
while outstation.
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Update:
There is an app available now. See
https://support.opendns.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/220007387/comments/360003153892_______________________
I'm not aware of an Updater for Android. This doesn't make sense anyway, because...
"We can always update the dynamic IP while outstation."
Exactly this not! OpenDNS is for networks you own, not for your devices in other networks. You never should register IP addresses with OpenDNS which are not assigned to your networks. Therefore Updaters do not belong onto roaming devices, not at all.
If you're looking after roaming/mobile solutions, then Umbrella Roaming and Mobility are for you:
http://www.umbrella.com/products/roaming/
http://www.umbrella.com/products/mobility/Beside this, you can still try to use OpenDNS FamilyShield on your roaming devices: https://store.opendns.com/familyshield/
And if you need to update your IP address from inside one of your networks only, you can use the Update URL, also on Android browsers:
https://email:password@updates.opendns.com/nic/update?hostname=OpenDNS_network_labelYou could make a bookmark of it in the browser.
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" You never should register IP addresses with OpenDNS which are not assigned to your networks."Why not?
And consider the alternative: you are travelling. Maybe the airport, museum, library, or mall you are at has free WiFi. Connecting to gives you a faster data connection and saves your battery, allowing you to use your phone as a valuable resource while you are out. I would say this is how a large number of people use their smartphone.
But...you end up using the DNS that is supplied by the WiFi service, rather than a DNS of your choice such as OpenDNS. Surely this is a terrible security hole--their DNS could easily lead your browsing astray.
Wouldn't using OpenDNS be a more secure solution? Certainly it wouldn't be as secure as using OpenDNS on your home network, but that's not really germane to this situation. Carrying around a gateway or hotswap box when you are walking around doesn't really seem practical either.
Wouldn't OpenDNS be better than the alternative in this situation?
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Okay, I just figured out that Umbrella is a VPN proxy service (although it doesn't look like it is available for Android at the moment). The description of it being a 'security appliance' got me confused (I think of an appliance as something you hold--you should call it a security app for better clarity).
But what if you are at a mall and its DNS is hacked? Your phone has the Umbrella app, and it tries to connect to its proxy service using the mall's DNS, which provides a fake address.
I still think being able to use the DNS of your choice on your smartphone is better than using whatever DNS is out there. But I guess we have to wait for the PhDs at Google to figure out that it is a good idea to give us this choice.
(That, or avoid Google's version of Android by rooting our phones, I guess).
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"Why not?"
Because it's not your IP address. Other users sharing the same IP address and using OpenDNS would be bound to your settings. Is that fair? Would you like this would happen to you? And if the network admins already registered the IP address with OpenDNS, you wouldn't be able to do it anyway.
Also, if the network admins of those other network did a proper job, you'll not be able to use a 3rd party DNS service at all, only the one they wish you to use.
"Wouldn't OpenDNS be better than the alternative in this situation?"
Sure, the Umbrella version, as I have explained.
"I just figured out that Umbrella is a VPN proxy service (although it doesn't look like it is available for Android at the moment)."
It is available for Android devices too, of course.
"But what if you are at a mall and its DNS is hacked?"
Doesn't matter. When using a proxy you don't use their DNS - out of scope. And I would not expect that the Umbrella apps would connect to a redirected VPN service. They certainly have security measures built-in.
"I still think being able to use the DNS of your choice on your smartphone is better than using whatever DNS is out there."
Maybe, if you have a choice at all. DNSCrypt may be an option, but you still can't use your own settings, because you shouldn't register other IP addresses with your OpenDNS network.
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You can continue to use OpenDNS whilst away from home base by installing a DNS changer app such as 'DNS Changer', though you do need to have a rooted device to allow it to change your Mobile DNS rather than just your WiFi DNS.
The DNS changer apps generally have Google DNS and OpenDNS preconfigured which makes it easy to switch. It's worth pointing out that you if you need to sign in to a local (café, hotel, airport etc.) WiFi network you must do that first before switching to OpenDNS, as the sign-in process usually relies on a local DNS Server to work properly.
It should work fine to have OpenDNS permanently configured for Mobile networks.
Have a try and let us know how you get on.
I'm surprised that OpenDNS haven't produced the equivalent to DNSCrypt for Android devices as I use DNSCrypt on my laptop while away from home base and, with the caveat about having to use the local DNS for WiFi sign-in, it works just fine.
Tony
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"It should work fine to have OpenDNS permanently configured for Mobile networks. "
No. If the network admins did a good job, they will prevent you from using any 3rd party DNS service.
"I'm surprised that OpenDNS haven't produced the equivalent to DNSCrypt for Android devices as I use DNSCrypt on my laptop while away from home base"
OpenDNS didn't produce any DNSCrypt client or proxy. They just support the server side, not the client side.
And sure, there is a DNSCrypt client for Android too: http://dnscrypt.info/ - why do you think it isn't?
Whatever, this thread is about an Updater for Android, not about using OpenDNS on Android devices, so you're pretty much off-topic.
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How about for a home network where pcs are less used, and android tablets more frequently used. How do I automatically keep my ip address updated with opendns if the pcs spend most of the time switched off, and the kids use the tablets. I use opendns to monitor and control what the kids can access, and if I am at work and they are at home, if the pc is switched off, all they have to do is reset the router and they can access stuff previously that was prohibited, albeit within the limitations of familyshield
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"How do I automatically keep my ip address updated with opendns if the pcs spend most of the time switched off, and the kids use the tablets."
There are routers and other devices which can perform the updates. This is the preferred option if a stationary computer isn't switched on.
And again, as I said above, Updaters do not belong onto roaming devices, not at all. This is too dangerous, as this would break your home network configuration if the devices connect to another network and would update your home dashboard network with this other IP address. Your home network's settings don't take effect any longer then. And it could force other OpenDNS users in the other network to use your OpenDNS settings and therefore severely impact them.
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You are missing the point, just because something is dangerous doesnt mean it shouldnt be done...look at mobile banking apps for example. There is no technical reason why an android app cannot update opendns with an ip address, especially with these concerns in mind, maybe the app could do updates only when connected to a certain SSID for example. A blanket no-too dangerous is simply ignoring the future trends, as more and more people abandon microsoft operating systems to access the internet and use other devices, in particular android tablets, but in addition, android media streamers, smart tvs etc, and the fact the most users are on dynamic ip, opendns will need to be supported on other devices.
What are the routers and other devices that can perform the updates? Can someone provide some examples of such devices that are not expensive?
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"You are missing the point"
No you are missing the point. Again, an updater does not belong on a roaming device. OpenDNS is only for networks you own, not for your devices in other networks. You cannot use a car to fly or swim. You'll have to use a different tool or service. A VPN service like Umbrella is the way to go.
"just because something is dangerous"
I meant dangerous from a technical perspective, because you'll break two things: protection of your home network and orderly using settings for other OpenDNS users in the guest network. You're just the guest and don't have the right to hi-jack other peoples' property for your purpose. This is inacceptable.
"more and more people abandon microsoft operating systems to access the internet and use other devices"
Agreed, these smart devices (iOS and Android) are purely and lousy protected. You know where to complain about that. Definitely not here. OpenDNS Home Basic is not to compensate omissions of those OSes of roaming smart devices. This is what Umbrella was created for.
"the fact the most users are on dynamic ip"
This will dramatically change with IPv6.
"What are the routers and other devices that can perform the updates?"
All routers, DVRs, IP cameras supporting OpenDNS, DNS-O-Matic or "user defined" in their list of services. All devices where ddclient or inadyn can run on, i.e. all routers which can be flashed with alternative firmware like Tomato (http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato), DD-WRT, FreeWRT, HyperWRT Thibor, OpenWRT, Tarifa or X-Wrt. All computers which can run an updater like http://www.opendns.com/support/dynamic_ip_downloads/ or http://updater.marc-hoersken.de/
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Just because an android device like a tablet or phone can be roaming doesn't mean it has to be, as stated before this is so I can monitor and limit the kids internet access on their tablets while i am at work not for taking these devices onto other networks.
A windows laptop can be just as roaming as a phone or tablet, there is nothing stopping anyone running the pc update program on a laptop on someone else's network, there is no difference in the protection other than the physical size and bulkiness of the laptop.
No intention of paying any money for this (umbrella is not free and therefore is not under consideration), cant see the point anyway especially to use a vpn from my within my own home.
Don't think my router can flash, only options are dyndns and no-ip (both charge so neither will be used). Perhaps If no-one else will make an android app I might get an android SDK myself and make one, seeing as all it will have to do is request a simple url it cant be that hard...
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I see, it is about that the IP address information is kept updated for your home network, and you cannot be sure, because no computer or other device is always switched on to run an updater, or an updater is not available for the devices being switched on.
Your remaining options (beside the ones mentioned above) are:
- Another router which is able to update OpenDNS
- Running some other device (computer, DVR, IP camera, ...) being able to update OpenDNS
- Getting a static IP address from an ISP
- Writing a script / update client to be used on roaming devices connected to your network, as you said, ensuring that it only updates when used within your network
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"Another router which is able to update OpenDNS, What kind of router? What is the model"
Router models are ones which support DDNS for one of OpenDNS, DNS-O-Matic or "user defined". Also, there's alternative firmware available for many routers like Tomato or DD-WRT which is able to update OpenDNS too.
"can I see the traffic for all the iP address is dynamic"
You can see DNS statistics and reports only, not anything else like web or mail traffic, for all devices inc the DNS traffic of the router.
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If you have a router that can run Tomato firmware that will probably allow you to update your IP address.
I am running the toastman version of tomato on my router and it allows that. I believe the victek version also does.
For more info go to tomatousb.org/mods
Or also http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php?forums/tomato-firmware.33/ -
The world has changed since this thread was opened. Did you try a simple internet search?
These things come out for example:
http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/55700/how-to-use-your-android-tablet-to-update-your-opendns-ip
http://l6n.org/android/dyndns.shtml https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.icecoldapps.dynamicdnsupdate&hl=enYou may need to provide an update URL or just an update server. This is:
OpenDNS: https://updates.opendns.com/nic/update?hostname=NETWORKLABEL
DNS-O-Matic: http://updates.dnsomatic.com/nic/update?hostname=all.dnsomatic.com -
Can someone please tell me how to log in? I've tried my email address and my router username along with the passwords and neither work. It says " A username and password are being requested by https://updates.opendns.com. The site says: "RESTRICTED"".
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If you're talking about the update URLs, you must use your OpenDNS credentials, same as you use to login to your account. Your router credentials are irrelevant. If this does not work, replace the @ character from your e-mail address by the escape sequence %40
If it still does not work, your password may contain special characters reserved for URL encoding/escaping. You better change your password then to not contain such characters.
If you need to provide your credentials in the update URL, then the syntax is this:
OpenDNS: https://email%40example.com:password@updates.opendns.com/nic/update?hostname=NETWORKLABEL
DNS-O-Matic: http://email%40example.com:password@updates.dnsomatic.com/nic/update?hostname=all.dnsomatic.com -
Tips: The update URL with credentials (https://email%40example.com:password@updates.opendns.com/nic/update?hostname=NETWORKLABEL) does not work in Microsoft Edge, but Chrome does... I wasted 30 minutes of my time trying in Edge... finally in desperation I paste it into Chrome and it works...
Cheers.
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Running a batch job against a browser? This is rather not a good idea, because a browser is not a batch tool. You'll want to use wget or cURL for this. Download such a tool, and create a script like:
wget -O - -S --no-check-certificate https://email:password@updates.opendns.com/nic/update?hostname=NetworkLabel
Where @ in email must be replaced by %%40 in Windows, e.g. myname%%40googlemail.com.
But we're on the way going off-topic, because this thread is solely about "an IP Updater for OpenDNS using android". If you want to discuss this further, open an own thread.
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"Is there an IP Updater for OpenDNS using android"
I have updater configured in my windows Laptop. When ever we switch on router, or if there is a power supply cut to router, or if router is restarted etc, it needs my laptop to be switched on and openDNS updater to pick the latest dynamic DNS. All websites irrespective of any restricted websites open until this openDND Updater does its task. If for some reason my laptop is not switched on, child can see everything on web without any restriction. So leaving child alone can simply restart the router to get free to all web content.
If an android version is available, we can have some control at least to quickly run the updater than to take time in switching on the laptop or when I am away from home with my laptop. -
"Is there an IP Updater for OpenDNS using android"
Yes, there is, here you go: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.icecoldapps.dynamicdnsupdate
You need to use DNS-O-Matic too, or use the custom URL option.Btw, I use my router's DDNS update client to keep OpenDNS and other services updated. This is the ideal case. You may not need a laptop at all. Any built-in update client, e.g. on the router, NAS, DVR, IP camera, etc. supporting one of OpenDNS, DNS-O-Matic or "custom / user defined" can do this. And you can update from your Android (or other) device via browser using this URL from within your network at any time:
https://updates.opendns.com/nic/update?hostname=YourNetworkLabel
Just to repeat the risks of running an updater on a roaming device (like your laptop or an Android device): as soon as it connects from another network or mobile network, it can update your OpenDNS dashboard network with a wrong IP address, leaving your home network unprotected. You also may impact other users using this IP address. You see that this is counterproductive in your scenario. An Updater on an Android device doesn't help here at all, unlike you say, but to the contrary.
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