Advertising: "Sharing feedbacks on FlashStart DNS malware & content filtering"

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1

My name is Francesco Collini and I am CEO at FlashStart.
We have recently been certified as a “MFM - Made for Mikrotik” software platform and we are proud of this.
I would personally be grateful to receive some feedbacks and also critics (they are always welcome!) about our cybersecurity solution available for Mikrotik.

We would like to improve our integration and DNS security for Mikrotik.
Additional infos are available https://flashstart.com/mikrotik


Thank you so much, with my greatest cheers.
Francesco

2

Francesco, signed up to give it a go.
Can you please explain to me the benefit of using the DNS provided by FS
Versus something like Cloudfare 1.1.1.2 ( no malware) for example?

3

What does it bring vs the free NextDNS plan? (or others)?

4

Hi Zvena, exactly why I asked compared to something like 1.1.1.2 that Cloufare offers.
It appears to also look similar to OPEN DNS family settings but more indepth.

5

This service or services like this are of no use at all,
as long as the device that the end user uses is not limited by some proprietary software that prevents any alternative means of resolving DNS.

These are all resources and time completely wasted.

6

NextDNS???
“Click and go” on Firefox, is already ready for use…
More simple than this…

7

But but look where fcollini is from, dont tell me he wants to waste my money??

8

Dear Anav,
thank you so much for the trial!
FlashStart is one of the fastest global DNS secure platform, according to DNS Perf independent comparison:
https://www.dnsperf.com/#!dns-resolvers

Every platform has pros and cons, obviously.
Regarding FlashStart, I could say we have a very easy-to-manage Dashboard with cool features, such as geoblocking, MS Active Directory integrations, malware threat intelligence, content filter and possibility to extend the protection to remote users through roaming agents. Synchronizing the same protection.

Every blocklist of ours is entirely maintained through our A-I algorhythm and we have a pretty fast human blocklist tuning!

I would be really glad to receive your feedbacks and also critics!

Cheers,
Francesco

9

Dear Zneva,
thank you for posting, it’s a very good question.
Honestly, I think it depends on the network scenarios, requirements and market segments.
Free DNS filtering solutions exists, they work and they are good for some scenarios.
Proprietary platforms could be better if you need to protect an Enterprise network and you need a support desk.

We wrote an article comparing free solutions with proprietary ones:
https://flashstart.com/the-case-against-free-dns-content-filtering-for-business/

Both are good, the network Admin always makes the difference choosing the proper one according to different scenarios.

Cheers,
Francesco

10

Yes, for a stasndalone PC it’s a very good one.
Moreover, if you need to control the whole DNS intelligence in an enterprise network, probably there is the need for a different kind of service..

11

I live in Italy, FlashStart is based in Europe, we have developers and maintaners also from other continents.
We offer a professional global service; a part a free trial, it’s a proprietary platform and we also need to pay the bill! :slight_smile:

BTW, I had the pleasure to write this post to share our MFM (Made for Mikrotik) certification and get some feedbacks/critics by Mikrotik admins.
We still have a lot to learn! :slight_smile:

Cheers,
Francesco

12

I knew a guy that talked liked you around here, he was spamming some cloud management service.
As his, yours is shady too.
No prices listed on your website.
No public test servers, no public latency times, no list of servers geo location, nothing.
No.
And I don’t know what “Made for MikroTik” has to do with your DNS filtering, you’re just using the MikroTik brand to get attention.
Waste of time on your side.
As an admin, nothing from what you’re “offering” interests me enough to signup for a trial.

13

NextDNS is free (and the “only DoH” is already integrated on Firefox, for example, already integrated and ready on other platforms)

300,000 queries/month FREE / Unlimited queries $1,99
Unlimited devices
Unlimited configurations
Access to all features
Community support

DNSFilter / NextDNS / Cisco umbrella are faster (your source https://www.dnsperf.com/#!dns-resolvers,World,performance,2022-07-01 )

And 300,000 queries/month FREE still free…

14

You need to know what is meant by “enterprise network”, for sure it is not the ISPs who do not have every single device of the customer under control,
and of course not even “enterprise network” has it.
Because those who really manage a “enterprise network” do not rely on the first one who passes on the MikroTik forum,
especially with a cloud service that could block the whole network in an instant (without going to look for the reason), or worse…

15

Hi Zneva, let me reply point by point:

  • speed: you need to choose “Last 30 days” from the DNSPerf comparison menu: https://www.dnsperf.com/#!dns-resolvers
    We made important anycast improvements and we are faster than in July
  • prices: we do not expose public prices as we only work with Channel Partners. It’s a guarantee to respect our Channel
  • you can test the latency just after registering the trial using the “Latency test” tool
  • we developed a series of scripts and integration, in RouterOS, to activate the filter, synchronize dynamis IPs, creating DNS encrypted tunnels with Mikrotik/OpeVPN if you need to manage NAT-ted locations. We also share strategies on DNS enforcement and redirection using Mikrotik.
  • the list of our public servers is online and updated: https://flashstart.com/anycast-network/
  • prices: it was not the intention of this post to talk about prices. Simply, I would like to receive feedbacks on the integration and the service.

Francesco

16

Usually, an “Enterprise service” is a network scenario involving Company, Governments, K12 Schools where sometime a free solution is not enough.
It depends on the kind of level and SLAs required by the Organization…

17

Many words, nothing palpable :slight_smile:
I see no scripts, nothing to “evaluate” and leave feedback.

18

Do you miss that the business is related to prices or are you ignoring it?

MikroTik does not sell its products directly, and if you buy them in volume from distributors you also spend 5% less than what is written,
but IS WRITTEN something on site…

If all the others publish them and you don’t, there is something that stinks…

For example, DNSFilter for 1 local DNS cache: $1,00/month, NextDNS free until 300.000, then $1,99/month, your service are reported to be $5/month.

All other company are directly involved on prices, instead you have (piramidal?) partners…

19

I fully accept your critics, I take them into high consideration.
I am just trying to answer, maybe something is not immediately reachable.
Here is a good video, for example: https://flashstart.com/mikrotik-configuration-flashstart-filtering/

When you Start a free trial, we have different “points” where we gather feedbacks:

  • in the online first setup process
  • in the mail funnel according to the trial progress.

And I am here too :slight_smile:

Cheers,
Francesco

20

Another lie, your indipendent font say 99.53% uptime (on last 30 days as you write) and on the site is 99,999%
Just 1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8 and 9.9.9.9 have 99,98% and you have better network???