Freeware Tools: NxFilter 2.7.9

NxFilter is a DNS filtering server that is capable of filtering Internet traffic based on domain names and content categories. In addition, it can use DNS packet inspection to protect your network from malware and botnet activity. NxFilter is installed on a single PC, where it acts as a DNS proxy server. In order to route your Internet traffic through NxFilter, you will need to change the DNS settings on all machines that you want to protect to use the IP address of the NxFilter instance (instead of your regular DNS servers).

NxFilter is a comprehensive software application for monitoring and examining the HTTP traffic in your network, as well as for restricting access to websites.

Although it may seem easy to handle, the tool actually requires some experience with networking tools, since it's mostly designed for administrators and other IT specialists.

By accessing the "Network and Sharing Center panel", you can choose the TCP / IP protocol to configure for using a specific DNS server address. Since the program is actually a forwarding DNS server, you can apply the exact method of setting up a DNS server for user systems.

However, you should keep in mind that NxFilter features a console interface for updating the required folders, which means that you have to be familiarized with switches.

By downloading the additional libraries (specified on the website) and configuring the installed services afterward, you can finally get the DNS server up and running.

You can get notifications about the user who tried to access blocked webpages, as well as create a list with as many users are necessary to associate them to IP addresses.

Furthermore, it is possible to manage policy information, create a whitelist by domain, check out a list with known phishing websites, edit request details, as well as generate and study daily reports.

Considering all of the above, NxFilter proves to be a reliable DNS filtering application that enables you to monitor and restrict permissions for all Internet activity, as well as to detect and block malware or botnet activity by analyzing the DNS packet.