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?

  • ivn
    110·
    1 month 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.

  • thayerwEnglish
    60·
    30 days ago

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

  • merlinEnglish
    50·
    30 days ago

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

  • NariomEnglish
    20·
    1 month ago1 month 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.

  • Darkassassin07English
    20·
    30 days 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.

  • hexagonwin
    20·
    30 days ago

    run pihole (or something similar) locally behind that vpn