Navigating ISP Restrictions: A Personal Experience with OpenDNS

Recently, I encountered an issue with my Internet Service Provider (ISP) that I believe is worth sharing. Many users may face similar restrictions without knowing their options, so here’s what happened:

Upon trying to access certain websites, I found that my ISP had automatically blocked various sites, particularly those that host adult content and popular torrent sites like RARBG. Such restrictions seemed unnecessary, especially since they were enforced without any prior notice or consent from users.

When I contacted my ISP to inquire about the possibility of lifting these blocks, they informed me that while it could be done, I would need to opt for a “public IP address,” which comes with an additional fee of 100 ZAR per month. This raised a red flag for me—was this request legitimate, or were they attempting to extract extra fees from customers unnecessarily?

While utilizing a VPN is a viable workaround to access restricted sites, I was reluctant to pay for one due to my concerns about potential speed reductions and the hassle of managing yet another subscription. After carefully weighing my options, I took to various resources online in hopes of finding solutions to bypass these restrictions.

To my surprise, many helpful comments and articles from the community guided me toward an effective solution that did not involve incurring additional charges. Several users recommended changing the DNS settings on my computer or device to Google’s public DNS. With this new information, I decided to give it a try.

Following the steps outlined in online guides, I easily adjusted my DNS settings, and much to my relief, the problem was resolved. No longer do I see those frustrating “website blocked due to content filtering” messages when attempting to browse. It was such a simple fix, and I couldn’t help but wonder why I hadn’t stumbled upon this solution in my earlier searches.

I want to thank everyone who offered their advice—it proved invaluable and really illustrates the power of community knowledge. For anyone experiencing similar restrictions from their ISP, I encourage you to explore adjusting your DNS settings before committing to additional fees. You just might find the solution is easier than you think!