OpenDNS

For the past few months, my online experience has been interrupted by web sites not loading the first time around. Or to put it more technically, the DNS servers of my ISP weren't resolving the IP address of the host name (or at least I think that's what was happening). So I'd have to hit reload a couple of times until the site eventually loaded. If that wasn't the case, then there was some other problem (proxy server?) - either way, it was annoying the crap out of me.

It was by chance that I stumbled on OpenDNS this week while trying to find a tutorial to configure the Apache HTTP server running on my machine publicly accessible via a dynamic DNS provider (as it turns out, port forwarding on your router is the key! Well, one of them...).

So anyway, OpenDNS - here's their marketing blurb:

OpenDNS makes the Internet experience safer, faster and smarter for you and everyone using your network. It's free and takes only 2 minutes to get started, with no software to install.

And a more technical explanation via Wikipedia:

OpenDNS offers DNS resolution for consumers and businesses as an alternative to using their Internet service provider's DNS servers. By placing company servers in strategic locations and employing a large cache of the domain names, OpenDNS usually processes queries much more quickly, thereby increasing page retrieval speed.

Other features include a phishing filter, domain blocking and typo correction (for example, typing wikipedia.og instead of wikipedia.org). By collecting a list of malicious sites, OpenDNS blocks access to these sites when a user tries to access them through their service. OpenDNS recently launched Phishtank, where users around the world can submit and review suspected phishing sites.

And here's a great introduction to the service and how to get it working:
What is OpenDNS and Why You Absolutely Need It ?

Once you're up and running, or you think you are, you can take the tests to verify that your configuration is correct. Signing up for an account is optional, but it lets you manage content filtering, stats, and a whole suite of other features. And it's free! There's also an active community.

You could use OpenDNS without an account, but it'd be like having a Porsche stuck in first gear.

Unfortunately I can't benefit from these extra features because of my ISP's proxy server, but my original problem is no more, so I'm stoked!