Pi-hole is a network-wide ad and tracker blocker that functions as a DNS sinkhole. It acts as an intermediary for your network's DNS requests, blocking access to known ad and tracking domains before they are even loaded, and is typically installed on a low-power device like a Raspberry Pi or in a virtual machine. This protects all connected devices, from computers to smart TVs, without needing individual ad-blocker software on each one.
How it works
DNS sinkhole: Pi-hole intercepts all DNS requests from devices on your network.
Blocking: When a request is made to a domain on its blocklist (which can be imported from external sources or customized), Pi-hole discards the request.
Forwarding: If the request is to a non-ad domain, Pi-hole forwards it to an upstream DNS server (like Cloudflare or Google) to be resolved.
Setup: You install Pi-hole and configure your network's router to use your Pi-hole as the primary DNS server. Devices on the network will then automatically use it.
Key benefits
Network-wide protection: Blocks ads in apps, smart TVs, and other devices that don't have traditional browser-based ad blockers.
Increased privacy: Blocks trackers and prevents your activity from being monitored by third parties.
Improved performance: By blocking unwanted content, it can help improve browsing speed and reduce bandwidth usage.
A guide for setting up Pi-hole for network-wide ad blocking is provided below.
1. Prerequisites:
A dedicated device, such as a Raspberry Pi, running a supported operating system (e.g., Raspberry Pi OS).
A stable internet connection.
A power supply for your device.
An Ethernet cable (recommended) or Wi-Fi connectivity.
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2. Assign a Static IP Address:
Access your router's administration panel.
Locate the DHCP settings and find your Pi-hole device's MAC address.
Configure a static IP address reservation for your Pi-hole device, ensuring it always receives the same IP address on your network.
3. Install Pi-hole:
Open a terminal on your Pi-hole device.
Execute the following command to download and run the Pi-hole installer:
Code
curl -sSL https://install.pi-hole.net | bash
Follow the on-screen prompts during the installation wizard, which will guide you through basic configuration, including selecting an upstream DNS server (e.g., Cloudflare, Google).
4. Configure Router DNS Settings:
Access your router's administration panel again.
Navigate to the DNS settings and set the primary DNS server to the static IP address of your Pi-hole.
Optionally, you can set a secondary DNS server as a fallback, but it is recommended to keep it as your Pi-hole's IP if you want comprehensive ad blocking.
Save the changes and reboot your router if necessary.
5. (Optional) Configure Pi-hole as DHCP Server:
If your router does not allow changing DNS settings, you can configure Pi-hole to act as your network's DHCP server.
Disable the DHCP server on your router.
Enable and configure the DHCP server within the Pi-hole web interface (accessible at http://[Pi-hole_IP_Address]/admin).
6. Access the Pi-hole Web Interface:
Open a web browser and navigate to http://[Pi-hole_IP_Address]/admin.
Log in using the password set during installation.
The dashboard provides statistics on blocked ads, DNS queries, and allows for further configuration.
7. Add Blocklists and Whitelists:
Within the Pi-hole web interface, navigate to "Group Management" > "Adlists."
Add URLs of publicly available ad blocklists (e.g., from Firebog.net) to expand your ad-blocking capabilities.
Use the "Whitelist" and "Blacklist" sections to manage specific domains you wish to allow or block.
After adding new blocklists, update Pi-hole's gravity list by running pihole -g in the terminal or by clicking "Tools" > "Update Gravity" in the web interface.
8. Verify Functionality:
Browse the internet on a device connected to your network and observe the reduction in advertisements.
Check the Pi-hole dashboard for blocked queries and statistics.