Huawei B593 URL Filtering

[netorius77]

I am trying to restrict access to some sites to prevent the kids abusing our limited prepaid broadband data allocation. We are getting through 100GB in three months. I cannot find a way to find out what the biggest users are (and we do not download movies as far as I am aware).

I have a feeling that the primary culprits are (and I am sure there are others, but starting here):

• YouTube
• SnapChat
• Instagram

I went into the setup of the B593-601 where there is an option to add sites to be blacklisted (under "Security")

However it seems to me whenever I do this, I get very poor performance and unreliable connections through the modem. If I delete all the blacklisted sites again, everything goes back to reliable operation. Has anyone else experienced this? Do I need to anything else to activate a list of blacklisted URLs?

 

[ashfaak]

OpenDNS allows you to filter 25 domains for free. If your modem allows custom DNS, that would be an option.

 

[kianm]

OpenDNS is your answer, but i know the B593 does not allow custom DNS so you would need an additional device to handle your DHCP to accomodate handing out the OpenDNS settings. When i signed up for a free account it allowed me to set category rules and also put in a limited number (IIRC 25) custom names to allow or deny.

 

[netorius77]

Thanks. Are you both suggesting I do not use the URL filtering function built in to the B593?

My model does not seem to have anywhere I can set up the custom DNS settings provided by OpenDNS.

 

[sajunky]

Unfortunately you can't do that with B593 alone. You have to deploy a full featured router (say 'B') between B593 and your LAN. As I recall from previous discussion you can't disable B593 internal firewall or put router in a bridge mode, but I suggested before, you could use DMZ feature and place router 'B' in DMZ on B593 which gives bridge mode functionality (sort of).

If you chose router carefully, you can not only use custom DNS or URL filtering, but on some routers you can activate QOS with quota system (download limits) per individual device and many more.

 

[netorius77]

Thanks for the info. I have installed OpenDNS Updater that appears to check what my dynamic IP address is each time I log on and change the settings automatically. Seems to be working.