17 votes

Why you need a network-wide ad-blocker

13 comments

  1. [7]
    HR8210
    Link
    Both smartphones and tablets can run ad-block plugins in Firefox and if you're worried about privacy you're not going to use IoT. And if by blocking ads you break some website's functionality...

    Network-based. So it can remove ads and trackers in places where traditional browser-based ad blocker plug-ins cannot (think smartphones, tablets and IoT).

    Both smartphones and tablets can run ad-block plugins in Firefox and if you're worried about privacy you're not going to use IoT.
    And if by blocking ads you break some website's functionality browser plugins are much easier to reconfigure or disable then Pi-Hole

    11 votes
    1. nutax
      Link Parent
      Once you get the Pi-Hole up and running, reconfiguring or disabling it is pretty easy IMO. Even so, it's a good idea to run a separate ad-block plug-in on your browser to block some WEB elements...

      Once you get the Pi-Hole up and running, reconfiguring or disabling it is pretty easy IMO. Even so, it's a good idea to run a separate ad-block plug-in on your browser to block some WEB elements the Pi-Hole is unable to block.

      14 votes
    2. geosmin
      Link Parent
      They're actually not. You'd just go to https://pi.hole and click the big Disable Temporarily button.

      They're actually not. You'd just go to https://pi.hole and click the big Disable Temporarily button.

      3 votes
    3. najodleglejszy
      Link Parent
      you can even use system-wide ad blockers like Blokada on Android devices, so ads get filtered everywhere, not just in your browser.

      you can even use system-wide ad blockers like Blokada on Android devices, so ads get filtered everywhere, not just in your browser.

      2 votes
    4. [3]
      starchturrets
      Link Parent
      Do plugins prevent ads from loading, or do they filter them from an already downloaded page?

      Do plugins prevent ads from loading, or do they filter them from an already downloaded page?

      1 vote
      1. Lynx
        Link Parent
        Normally they block loading of resources based on URL rules. Which means they can actually differentiate between ad- and non-ad resources on the same domain, which a DNS blackhole can't do.

        Normally they block loading of resources based on URL rules. Which means they can actually differentiate between ad- and non-ad resources on the same domain, which a DNS blackhole can't do.

        7 votes
      2. HR8210
        Link Parent
        I think they prevent ads (or other page elements) from loading, but I might be wrong.

        I think they prevent ads (or other page elements) from loading, but I might be wrong.

        1 vote
  2. [4]
    nsz
    Link
    Does anyone know if this will slow down the internet and in what way? Like latency or download speed etc.

    Does anyone know if this will slow down the internet and in what way? Like latency or download speed etc.

    3 votes
    1. Lynx
      Link Parent
      Might actually have the opposite effect, since pihole includes a DNS cache. Either way, it only affects new connections (and then only if your machine hasn't cached the domain), so download speed...

      Might actually have the opposite effect, since pihole includes a DNS cache. Either way, it only affects new connections (and then only if your machine hasn't cached the domain), so download speed is unaffected.

      14 votes
    2. [2]
      SammyP6
      Link Parent
      I already have 2 of these setup. unless you use unbound as well (a recursive upstream dns) there will be no slowdowns. even with unbound, its only slow the first time you visit a site. if...

      I already have 2 of these setup. unless you use unbound as well (a recursive upstream dns) there will be no slowdowns. even with unbound, its only slow the first time you visit a site. if anything, there may be a slight speedup because once a site has been access, it is cached locally on the pi and since your computers not downloading the ads, there is less to download and therefore faster

      2 votes
      1. [2]
        Comment deleted by author
        Link Parent
        1. SammyP6
          Link Parent
          yes, but you dont need unbound for dnssec. cloudflare has support for dnssec and dns over https. my pihole also says that Google, Norton, DNS.WATCH and Quad9 support dnssec

          yes, but you dont need unbound for dnssec. cloudflare has support for dnssec and dns over https. my pihole also says that Google, Norton, DNS.WATCH and Quad9 support dnssec

          1 vote
  3. ThisIsMyTildesLogin
    Link
    Another easy way is to use Adguard DNS. You can use this either on your router or your OS's network settings.

    Another easy way is to use Adguard DNS. You can use this either on your router or your OS's network settings.

    3 votes
  4. ScienceForDessert
    Link
    My partner has benefited from their mobile apps no longer have ads on my Pi-holed network. It's nice.

    My partner has benefited from their mobile apps no longer have ads on my Pi-holed network. It's nice.

    1 vote