I gave OpenDNS a shot after lifehacker (one of my favorite tech sites) included it in their “Best apps of 2006“. I’ve got to say that I’m pretty happy with it.

One of my pet peeves when surfing is waiting for DNS lookups. My ISP’s DNS servers are not always the fastest and I’ve found my browsing is significantly faster since switching. I also like the fact that OpenDNS automatically corrects my spelling mistakes when I’m typing URI’s into the browser bar (e.g. “www.amazon.cmo” is auto-magically fixed to “www.amazon.com”). Finally, I like the fact that OpenDNS has integrated anti-phishing technology to protect all the computers on my network from phishing scams. The service also adds a number of nice features for network administrators on corporate networks.

Setup is really easy. All you have to do is change the DNS settings on your router or computer. That’s all there is to it.

Downsides? I suppose if you’re the paranoid type you could be worried about potential privacy issues with OpenDNS tracking your surfing habits. But then, your ISP can do that too, so that doesn’t really hold much water.

Overall, I’m really pleased and I’ll be keeping my networks pointed at the OpenDNS DNS servers for the foreseeable future.