CloudFlare And OpenDNS Join Forces To Help Internet Users Affected By DNSChanger Malware

PRESS RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, May 03, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- CloudFlare and OpenDNS today announce they are joining forces to aid more than a half-million Internet users still connecting to the DNS servers formerly used by a malicious malware attack known as DNSChanger.

CloudFlare, the web performance and security company, sees 25 percent of the Internet's visitors, powers more than 40 Billion page views, and makes the web faster, safer and more secure for more than 470 Million web visitors each month. OpenDNS is the world's largest and fastest-growing DNS + security company, today relied on by tens of millions of Internet users, 1 in 3 U.S. public schools and several Fortune 10 enterprises, alike.

CloudFlare and OpenDNS's services are both completely free and include many added benefits to users. CloudFlare focuses specifically on websites, offering website performance and security to any site online. CloudFlare protects and accelerates the websites of Fortune 500 companies, international governments, blogs and small businesses.

OpenDNS offers Internet security and DNS service to Internet users. Everyday OpenDNS provides millions of people at businesses, schools and in households with a safer, faster and more intelligent Internet experience by protecting them from malicious Web threats and improving their Internet's overall performance.

Late last year the crime ring responsible for the famed DNSChanger malware was taken down, and the operation of the DNS server it used to spread malware was taken over by DNS Changer Working Group (DCWG). DNSChanger worked by automatically and involuntarily converting the DNS settings of infected computers, then using that control to redirect valid URLs to malicious sites.

The DCWG recently announced it will cease operation of the DNS server once and for all on July 9, 2012. Unfortunately, there are still nearly a half of a million Internet users who have yet to switch their DNS away from the server, and pulling the plug on the server will effectively leave them without Internet connectivity.

Recognizing they are in a unique and opportune position to work together to help the half-million people still connecting to the server, OpenDNS and CloudFlare are joining forces to first notify Internet users still connecting to the DNSChanger DNS server, and then guide them to switch to OpenDNS, which will ensure fast, reliable and uninterrupted Internet access on July 9 and beyond.

The process will involve two simple steps, starting with CloudFlare customers enabling the DNSChanger Detector app, which will identify and notify visitors of a site if they are infected with the DNSChanger Malware. Once notified, infected users will be directed to OpenDNS, which will share simple and detailed instructions for switching DNS to OpenDNS's trusted servers.

"Reliability is one of the cornerstones OpenDNS is built upon. We look forward to providing uninterrupted Internet access, improved speed, performance and security to our new users joining the tens of millions who've already made the switch," said David Ulevitch, CEO of OpenDNS. "We're thrilled to be working with CloudFlare, a company we admire, to provide such an important service to a half-million Internet users who might still be completely unaware their Internet will go away in less than three months."

"CloudFlare's network sees more than 470 Million unique visitors each month, giving us the ability to provide notifications to a significant percentage of users who are infected with DNSChanger malware," said Matthew Prince, CEO and co-founder of CloudFlare. "In our ongoing efforts to provide a free and open web for everyone, CloudFlare was presented with the opportunity to help these infected Internet users and we couldn't be happier to partner with OpenDNS to provide them with a solution."

About OpenDNS: OpenDNS is the world's leading provider of Internet security and DNS services, enabling the world to connect to the Internet with confidence on any device, anywhere, any time. OpenDNS provides millions of businesses, schools and households with a safer, faster and more intelligent Internet experience by protecting them from malicious Web threats and providing them control over how users navigate the Internet, while dramatically increasing the network's overall performance and reliability. For more information about OpenDNS, please visit: www.opendns.com .

About CloudFlare: CloudFlare, Inc. ( www.cloudflare.com / @cloudflare) makes sites twice as fast, protects them from attacks, ensures they are always online, and makes it simple to add web apps with a single click. CloudFlare supercharges websites regardless of size or platform with no need to add hardware, install software, or change a line of code. The CloudFlare community gets stronger as it grows; every new site makes the network smarter. Thanks to our awesome sauce technology, every month hundreds of millions of people experience a faster, safer, better Internet. CloudFlare is recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer and was named the 2011 Most Innovative Network & Internet Technology Company of the Year by the Wall Street Journal. CloudFlare is based in San Francisco, California, USA.