[resource] DNS based ads and tracking blockers | self-hosted | Public DNS | Open Source alternatives

Reclaim your Privacy | Adblock is must ! because


For entire home protection - there are multiple ways to block tracking and ads, which is not limited to deploying self-hosted solutions such as Pi-hole or AdGuardHome,
many router firmware now has some way to block ads , for example OpenWrt's adblock packages, one thing to keep in mind while utilising router is to keep the block list under control.

If one cant self-host, we have public adblocking DNS servers, not limited to:

• DNSforge
• OpenBLD
• DNSwarden
• RethinkDNS

When we are not in our home network, but still want to protect our privacy and cut the internet crap, we have solution like:

• MacOS - Little SnitchMini
• Windows - so many option, like simplewall, HostsMan, and so on.
• Android - NetGuard. DO NOT get the PlayStore version- more info here - https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/blob/master/ADBLOCKING.md
• iOS - Not aware of any free options, use to be Lockdown, which is abandoned now / moved to paid model. In paid option we have better option such as AdGuard.

for self hosted solution new people can start with this article- has all the information one need - https://avoidthehack.com/best-pihole-blocklists
It has many links of adblocking projects, but beware many are abandoned as of 2024, for example Developer Dan, Energized, the blocklist project -- all are not regularly maintained.
Blocks list which are well maintained in 2024 maintained are:

1. Firebog's list - https://firebog.net/
2. hagezi blocklists - https://github.com/hagezi/dns-blocklists - highly recommended, but check your hardware limitation and your goal. bigger is not always better here.
3. StevenBlack - https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts - no matter what else one is using, must use this in supplement of any other list. this is bundled with pihole.
4. oisd - https://oisd.nl/. for the laziest people on earth. only listing here because there are huge fanboys of this lists. I personally don't like it or recommend it. one is better off without it, just with StevenBlack+easylist+easyprivacy.

NOTE:

This is in continuation of the amazing thread PiHole should be a must -- lots of vital information buried in that thread. could be overwhelming, specially for new members.
Lets use this thread with new updated information.

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Other helpful Utilities

1. d3ward's Adblock testing tool , ( thanks @eswarasai for suggestion)
2. Search domain in block list

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PART 2
Avoid the plague in first place by using alternative clients



Please feel free to add/suggest more resources.

Update first post, added a tool to test if a domain is included in any blacklist/whitelist.

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aasimenator said:

I only have the 3

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AdGurd is redundant if one is using OISD. ( also you might want to update the link to big.oisd), 81 of the list included in big blocklist is of AdGuard. Check here - https://oisd.nl/includedlists/big/0
requesting you to at-least add https://easylist.to/easylist/easylist.txt & https://easylist.to/easylist/easyprivacy.txt to reduce the malicious intent of whitelisting in oidn, if want to continue using that list.

To me, OISD is shit, it provide the Illusion of blocking many thing, where in reality its isn't. has vested interest, and whitelists domains for financial benefit. It had included lots of list to confuse user, while slipping many tracking url.
Sponsored by AdGuard, unnecessarily bloated list, contain many irrelevant and super outdated list , for example Energized use to be one the good blocklist provider but they seized to exist now for over 4 year, this OISD still use that blocklist ( one such example - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/E.../Converter/Hosts/AdguardSpywareFirstParty.txt )

StevenBlack + Easylist + Easyprivacy, is 100 time better then OISD, and would be more effective.
But as i said in the OP, its the most hyped blocklist out there, if i speak "facts" about it, people will come after me with draggers.

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EDIT and Disclaimer:
My objective is different than any other individual, its not the ads rather "privacy" & "surveillance" matter to me most.
My defence system is based on my "personal objective", which may not be suitable for any other. While SB+HaGeZi's are my base lists, I RegEx a lot (whitelist+blacklist) in initial days, very granule control based-on my device groups.

enthusiast29 said:

Don't take this as a personal attack,

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not at all, in-fact i attempted ninja edit and added disclaimer in my previous post

every individual has unique needs, but OISD is NOT what they pretend to be, That is my problem.
Its a illusion OISD created and majority of people fall for it. The same thing ABP did a decade back, but even today in 2024, people do use ABP.

but i would still say, even for people who don't have any time to debug and/or tech know-how.

StevenBlack + Easylist + Easyprivacy, is 100 time better then OISD, and would be more effective.

Click to expand...

in-fact StevenBlack alone is sufficient for 90% public.

@anmolbhard004
i don't have personal experience with either of these services. both seems to have the same set of functionality.
Guess one cant go wrong with adguard, i believe they have better community support.
check this out - https://simeononsecurity.com/articles/nextdns-vs-adguard-ad-blocker-comparison/ this might help you deciding.