The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) offers a free service called Canadian Shield that helps Canadians stay safe online by preventing access to known malicious domains.

Canadian Shield is a secure DNS (Domain Name System) service that filters internet requests to block malware, phishing attempts and other malicious sites. It works across all devices connected to your network with no software installation required.

DNS acts like the internet’s phonebook — it translates website names into IP addresses. Canadian Shield replaces your default DNS with a secure version that checks each request and blocks dangerous sites before they load.

• HTTP sites display a message explaining why access is blocked
• HTTPS sites show a browser connection error

This indicates the protection is working.

Canadian Shield can be configured on home routers, phones, tablets and computers.

A router setup video (University of Waterloo) is embedded below for step-by-step guidance.

• Private: Encrypts DNS queries for increased privacy
• Protected (recommended): Blocks malware and phishing sites
• Family: Adds adult content filtering for households with children