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Defend Against Phishing
and Malware

Tools to fight phishing, guard against malware, and help protect your network

Phishing emails, along with malicious websites and social media links, all pose risks. They are primary vectors behind business email compromise attempts, stolen credentials, ransomware, viruses, and other types of online threats.

Currently there is a huge increase in phishing and other malicious web activity related to the Coronavirus. The criminals behind these attacks use social engineering (preying on an individual’s vulnerabilities) to trick people into giving up their data or clicking on a link.

  • Add a protective DNS service, like Quad9, to block access to known malicious websites from phishing emails, bad social media links, and other types of web-based attacks. Set up is easy and only takes a few minutes. See instructions below.  Learn more here.
  • Make sure you have current anti-virus software on your computers. We have a free offering in our Cybersecurity Toolkit.
Instructions for setting up Quad9 on Laptops and Computers
Step 1

Go to System Preferences and select Network Settings.

Step 2

Click Advanced and select DNS.

Step 3

Click the ‘+’ sign and add 9.9.9.9 to the top of the list. Optional: You can add 149.112.112.112 as the second entry in the list.

If you are using IPv6 Click the ‘+’ sign and add 2620:fe::fe

Optional: You can add 2620:fe::9 as a secondary in the list.

Step 4

Click Ok and then Apply.

Step 1

Open Control Panel, select Network and Internet, and then select Network and Sharing Center. Click Change adapter settings on the left pane.

Step 2

Right-click the network interface connected to the internet and select Properties. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) from the list and click Properties.

If you are using IPv6 select Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)

Step 3

Select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter 9.9.9.9 into the Preferred DNS server box. For the Alternative DNS server enter 149.112.112.112

If you are using IPv6 enter 2620:fe::fe into the Preferred DNS server box.

Optional: You can add 2620:fe::9 as the alternative in the list.

Step 4

Click OK then Close to save your settings.

More Questions?

If you have more specific questions DNS, Quad 9 or similar topics, check out the GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit for Small Business and join us in our Community Forum, in the Avoid Dangerous Websites channel to chat with other users and experts. 

Join the community

How To Configure Quad9 on Your Home Router

Configuring Quad9 on your home router will help protect all of your home internet-connected devices against malicious activity. The exact instructions will vary by router. You can visit the website support pages of your router manufacturer (you will need to know the specific name and model number of your device) or you can do a quick internet search on how to change the DNS setting for your specific router. 

Here are the basic instructions:

  1. Sign in to your router’s web-based administration
    1. Depending on your router, you would connect using either https://192.168.0.1 or https://192.168.1.1
  2. Look for the Internet Setting (or DHCP Setting), which may be in the Advanced settings. 
  3. Go to the DNS Section
  4. Change/Select the option to Use these DNS servers9.9.9.9 as the primary DNS.
  5. Check the Network Address Settings (DHCP) as well.  This sends an address to the devices connecting on your network.  Set the Static DNS 1 as 9.9.9.9

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