OpenDNS,the world’s largest provider of Internet security and DNS services ,released a preview of DNSCrypt for the Windows operating system.

You can read the press release after the jump :

OpenDNS, the world’s largest and fastest-growing provider of Internet security and DNS services that deliver a safer, faster and more intelligent Internet experience to everyone, today announced a technology preview of DNSCrypt for the Windows operating system. Since the Windows operating system claims a market share upward of 80%, the Windows version of DNSCrypt is poised to make an immediate and positive impact on Internet security and Internet user privacy around the world.

Initially available only for the Linux and Mac OS X operating systems, DNSCrypt is a critical and revolutionary new technology that encrypts all DNS traffic between an Internet user and OpenDNS, their DNS provider. DNS is one of the fundamental building blocks of the Internet. It’s used every time Internet users visit websites, send email, conduct Instant Messenger (IM) conversation or do essentially anything else online. While OpenDNS has provided world-class security using DNS for several years, and OpenDNS is the most secure DNS service available, the underlying DNS protocol has inherent weaknesses.

OpenDNS developed DNSCrypt to address those weaknesses, existing particularly in what’s commonly referred to as the “last mile.” The “last mile” is the portion of the Internet connection between a computer and its set DNS provider. It’s notoriously insecure, particularly on public WiFi networks in places like coffee shops and airports. DNSCrypt secures the “last mile” of DNS traffic and solves an entire class of serious security concerns within the ubiquitous DNS protocol.

Why DNSCrypt is so significant:

In the same way the SSL turns HTTP Web traffic into HTTPS encrypted Web traffic, DNSCrypt turns regular DNS traffic into encrypted DNS traffic that is secure from eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. It doesn’t require any changes to domain names or how they work, it simply provides a method for securely encrypting communication between OpenDNS customers and the OpenDNS DNS servers in its data centers around the world. Nothing else like it exists today and DNSCrypt has the potential to be one of the most impactful advancements in Internet security since SSL, significantly improving every single Internet user’s online security and privacy when they enable it.

“DNSCrypt for Windows is a necessary step in deploying DNSCrypt to a global audience. DNSCrypt’s immense value and significance is immediately apparent to everyone knowledgeable about Internet security and privacy. And the preview of DNSCrypt for the Windows operating system means its benefit is now afforded to the vast majority of Internet users,” said David Ulevitch, CEO of OpenDNS.

“Security and privacy in our increasingly mobile world are among the most important problems to tackle today, and OpenDNS is in the perfect position as the world’s largest DNS and security provider to deliver this type of 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 : http://www.opendns.com