Researchers at The Citizen Lab have for the first time released technical evidence of sophisticated mercenary spyware being distributed via online advertising.
I have a finally tuned pihole that offers different blocking for different vLANs on my home network and VPNs, I would not trust a third party for ad blocking. However you do you.
I was watching SomeOrdanryGamers video on this and his pihole did not block all the ads on an ad infected site, but mine could. I have used canyoublockit many times to stress test my system, wish there was something newer though.
It’s free for a limited number of queries per month. Generally enough for one device (depending on personal usage, obviously). Edit: It’ll still function as DNS after that limit, you just won’t get ad blocking and whatnot.
Thanks very much for the explanation. I’ve installed NextDNS in my phone now and will do other devices as I get to them.
I don’t recommend Mullvad, and I appeal to everyone to stop recommending them. The monies they receive directly funds fascism and is responsible for serious harm to society and erosion of democracy.
FYI you can point your home router to NextDNS and quickly get whole-house coverage that way. This is good for things like smart tvs, Roku/android boxes, kindles etc.
Installing directly on your phone & laptop is best for devices that will travel outside of your home network.
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I have a finally tuned pihole that offers different blocking for different vLANs on my home network and VPNs, I would not trust a third party for ad blocking. However you do you.
I was watching SomeOrdanryGamers video on this and his pihole did not block all the ads on an ad infected site, but mine could. I have used canyoublockit many times to stress test my system, wish there was something newer though.
Trust it, no.
Is it better than nothing, yes.
Listen, some folks can afford to build and dedicate time and resources to making a pi-hole for their network.
Those who can’t need to know there are alternatives, some are better than others, I’m just sharing information.
I meant no shade, I know it takes a lot of work to do everything I have done for security/ad blocking.
Thanks for the tip. I can’t find pricing on the NextDNS site. Is it free?
Don’t think I have the spoons for things like PiHole.
Edit: found it via web search https://nextdns.io/pricing
It’s free for a limited number of queries per month. Generally enough for one device (depending on personal usage, obviously). Edit: It’ll still function as DNS after that limit, you just won’t get ad blocking and whatnot.
Mullvad has a free ad-blocking DNS you can use, too. I recommend the “base” version: https://mullvad.net/en/help/dns-over-https-and-dns-over-tls
Thanks very much for the explanation. I’ve installed NextDNS in my phone now and will do other devices as I get to them.
I don’t recommend Mullvad, and I appeal to everyone to stop recommending them. The monies they receive directly funds fascism and is responsible for serious harm to society and erosion of democracy.
FYI you can point your home router to NextDNS and quickly get whole-house coverage that way. This is good for things like smart tvs, Roku/android boxes, kindles etc.
Installing directly on your phone & laptop is best for devices that will travel outside of your home network.
Oh, that’s fantastic advice. Thank you!
Please know this service will be ending next month.
https://mullvad.net/en/blog/2026/9/3/shutting-down-our-public-encrypted-dns-servers-and-sponsoring-quad9-instead/
Well crud. Thanks for the heads-up. First I’ve heard.
Sounds like Quad9 doesn’t actually do ad blocking, so that’s not much of a replacement.
Quad9 is a crap choice though 😥