Privacy

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How do you filter ads and trackers outside of a browser while still using a VPN service? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 months ago by TheTwelveYearOld@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

7 comments fedilink hide all child comments

This is straightforward with browser addons like uBlock Origin where you can add and choose blocklists, but I did searches for doing so system wide and using a VPN but didn't find clear answers. I could use a DNS service that provides blocklists but isn't it best practice to leave DNS to the VPN provider? I looked up blocklists and VPNs but didn't find relevant results.

On Android, I didn't find any apps that let you filter blocklists and using your own VPN other than Rethink, but the blocklists feature requires using Rethink's DNS.

So what's the best way to filter ads and trackers on both 3rd party apps and on OS's like Android (specific Samsung phones) while still using a VPN?

all 8 comments

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[–] ivn@jlai.lu 11 points 2 months ago

For system wide DNS blocking you only have two options: use a DNS server with blocking (either your own with something like a piHole our a public one) or use the hosts file.

[–] thayerw@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 months ago

Mullvad VPN provides a variety of blocklists, including ads, trackers, malware, gambling, social media, and adult content.

[–] aprehendedmerlin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 months ago

many vpns support custom dns servers in their clients i use windscribe with next dns as custom dns

[–] Unlearned9545@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

ControlD

[–] hexagonwin@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 2 months ago

run pihole (or something similar) locally behind that vpn

[–] Nariom@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I don't know a way to do it for a given system, at home you could plug a small computer to your router, like a raspberry or equivalent, set that as a dns, and run filtering on it.

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 months ago

I host my own vpn from home, which keeps me behind my pihole(s) and able to access my private services without exposing them to WAN.

Also secures my mobile traffic from snooping/modifying while on public networks.