An easy guide for setting up Cloudflare for Families internet filtering.
Cloudflare for Families is a free service offered by Cloudflare that lets you filter out access to adult content from your internet-connected devices. It works on all major platforms, such as Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone and even Linux.
Who is Cloudflare? Cloudflare is one of these companies you will have yet to hear about, but they run services across the internet. Many websites you visit will run Cloudflare services to keep their sites secure.
How to set up Cloudflare for Families
Cloudflare for Families works by filtering requests for websites. It does this by inspecting a system called DNS, which all devices use to find and load websites. DNS is like an address book; when you type in a web address, it finds the website and loads it up. By filtering the DNS, websites with adult content or containing malware and other nasties can be prevented from loading. Just remember, no filter is perfect, but using one is better than not using one at all.
Cloudflare does offer apps and applications you can install onto your computers or mobile devices to filter the internet at the device level. However, if your child determines what these apps do and learns how to deactivate them - the protection goes.
Below, we detail and guide you on a more in-depth way to set up Cloudflare for Families without using the apps, making it harder for a child to deactivate. This setup requires you to change a feature called DNS, but once this is changed, it will be harder for a child to bypass. It will also be harder for you to bypass as you will need to reverse the changes if you need to visit a website that is getting blocked by the filter.
How to alter the DNS on your router
To set up Cloudflare for Families so that all your devices connected to your home WiFi are protected from adult content, you must change the DNS settings on your router.
We can't provide step-by-step instructions because there are so many routers available, but you need to access your router's settings page. Your internet service provider will give you instructions on accessing the settings page. Once on the router settings page, you must head to the DNS section. Once there, you need to replace the current DNS settings with Cloudflare for Families DNS settings below, and then save the changes:
Primary DNS: 1.1.1.3
Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.3
Once you have completed this step, any devices connected to your home WiFi should no longer be able to access adult content. You can test this by trying to access https://nudity.testcategory.com/. You should be blocked.
Of course, blocking at the router level only prevents your devices from accessing adult material while they are on your home WiFi or network. If you take these devices out of the house or they have a mobile data connection, you'll also need to change the settings on the devices.
How to alter the DNS on Mac and Windows to use Cloudflare for Families:
To change your DNS settings on Mac, follow these steps:
Open System Settings.
Click on Network.
Select the Network you are currently connected to.
Click on Details.
Click on the DNS tab.
Click the + button to add a new DNS server.
Enter the following DNS addresses:
Primary DNS: 1.1.1.3
Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.3
Click OK.
You can also change your DNS settings for IPv6:
Click the + button to add a new DNS server.
Enter the following DNS addresses:
Primary DNS: 2606:4700:4700::1113
Secondary DNS: 2606:4700:4700::1003
Click OK.
To change your DNS settings on Windows 11, follow these steps:
Open the Settings app.
Click on Network & internet.
Click on Ethernet or WiFi, depending on how you are connected to the internet.
Click on the [Your Network Name] Properties link.
Click on Edit next to the DNS server assignment section.
Select Manual from the drop-down menu.
Under IPv4, enter the following DNS server addresses.
Enter the following DNS addresses:
Preferred DNS server: 1.1.1.3
Alternate DNS server: 1.0.0.3
DNS over HTTPS should be set to Off
Under IPv6, enter the following DNS server addresses.
Enter the following DNS addresses:
Preferred DNS server: 2606:4700:4700::1113
Alternate DNS server: 2606:4700:4700::1003
DNS over HTTPS should be set to Off
Click Save.
How to alter the DNS on your iPhone and Android to use Cloudflare for Families:
To change your DNS settings on your iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:
Open the Settings app.
Tap on WiFi.
Tap on the i icon next to the WiFi network you are connected to.
Scroll down and tap on Configure DNS.
Change the Automatic setting to Manual.
Tap on Add Server.
Enter the following DNS addresses:
Primary DNS: 1.1.1.3
Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.3
Tap on Save.
To change your DNS settings on Android, follow these steps:
Open the Settings app.
Tap on Network & internet.
Tap on Advanced.
Tap on Private DNS.
Select the Private DNS provider hostname option.
Enter family.cloudflare-dns.com and tap Save.
If you are using an older version of Android, you may need to change your DNS settings manually:
Open the Settings app.
Tap on WiFi.
Long-press on the Network you are connected to.
Tap on Modify network.
Tap on Show advanced options.
Change the IP settings to Static.
Under DNS settings, enter the following DNS addresses:
Primary DNS: 1.1.1.3
Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.3
Tap on Save.
You have now set up Cloudflare for Families on your devices. Remember to visit https://nudity.testcategory.com/ once you have set up the system to test that it works correctly.
Are you using web filtering in your business?
Businesses in the UK have a legal duty of care to protect their team members from stumbling upon inappropriate material online. Failure to do so could land you in a bit of trouble. Business-level web filtering and monitoring are included when you take out an IT Assistance and Support subscription with Kimbley IT! Book a video call below to learn more about protecting your team members' internet connection.