Triggered by the popularity of Blackberries, iPhones, Internet-capable gaming systems, and most recently, the iPad, there are now more than 10 billion non-PC devices that connect to the Internet. The majority of these devices do not have security software loaded on them, leaving them vulnerable to viruses, spyware, and malware. What might be even scarier is that it puts other devices on the network at risk if an attack is capable of spreading to other nodes.
To combat this, Symantec has announced a new offering called Norton DNS, a cloud-based service through which users would be able to configure their routers, PCs, and other web-capable devices in order to provide security at the Domain Name System level, using URL verification. Basically, when a device connects through these routers, the router would contact Norton’s domain name servers and check to see if the URL is safe to view. Because this can be configured on the router, any device connecting to the web through the router is protected.

In order to take advantage of this free service, more tech savvy users simply need to set their DNS servers to 198.153.192.1 and 198.153.194.1. Others can download a small program that will automate this on PCs and Macs, obtainable at www.nortondns.com. While this is a great solution for home PCs and routers, users are advised to consult their IT department before making any changes to their office computers, as this could adversely affect their ability to access business files and emails.