this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2023
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I've been using Adguard Free on Android for about a year now and I like how it works. I discovered it does not block trackers unfortunately. I'm thinking of buying a lifetime subscription. Is it worth it?

It seems like an all-in-one package for all my devices, which would save me a lot of thinkering.

Or would I just go using other providers like Mullvad or Pihole in the future? I mentioned Mullvad because of the VPN service, I think Adguard has that included too. Would that be safe to use for torrents? I live in the EU if that helps.

Thanks in advance!

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Now, how do you use a pihole on your phone when you aren’t connected to your WiFi?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Solution: Always be connected to your home network via permanent and mandatory VPN uplink.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You can use pivpn and tunnel into it using wireguard when You're not home.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Or

  • lockdown privacy
  • dnscloak
  • protonvpn with ad blocking
  • Mullvad vpn with ad blocking

If you are interested in protonvpn here’s a month free https://gonzoknows.com/product/proton-mail-plus-suite/

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Why pay for a VPN when you can just use pivpn/wireguard for free? The question was how to simply use pihole when remote. Idk why you'd need to pay for a VPN to do that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Don’t need to pay for a vpn there just so mainstream now and basically cost nothing. I pay for proton unlimited $50 a year and get vpn for 10 devices , storage, calendar and email

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

You might want to look into AdAway

It blocks trackers and ads, and functions the same as Adguard in that it uses a local vpn to block ads.

It also allows custom lists.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

Use NextDNS instead. Custom lists, tracker protection, and can be used for free with full features, but the paid version is very cheap.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

I've been using it and it works pretty well. It won't block all ads in some apps (like kids games) at least with the default config, but it's saved our devices from gigs worth of ads. I think on my wife's phone it's blocked something like a million ads and I'm sitting at 580,000 blocked on mine after about a year. It's nice that you can put it on multiple devices too.

I think PiHole is good too but only works at home. I also use Firefox with UBlock so I have that whitelisted in AdGuard.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Adguard app does block ads and trackers in the free version too, you just need to set up dns filtering and select adguard DNS. You can also create a nextdns account for free and run it through adguard to have more control over what you're blocking. Screenshot_20230826_045613_AdGuardScreenshot_20230826_045631_AdGuard

In general, adblocker for browser > DNS > anything else.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You can also create a nextdns account for free and run it through adguard to have more control over what you're blocking.

What would the advantage of doing this over just using NextDNS be? Is it that AdGuard does browser blocking too? I have uBO + NextDNS free. Does AdGuard offer anything better?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In my opinion, adguard is worth in two cases: if you need Firewall+VPN on an unrooted device (every other thing I tried was either Firewall or VPN, no chance of getting them to work at the same time), or if you're installing it on a family member's/acquaintance's device, so that they have an on/off switch if something goes wrong.

Unless you don't fit in one of those two cases adguard will do little to nothing for you

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

AdGuard blocks ads and trackers just fine

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks for the explanation! But what is behind 'Tracking protection' and 'browsing security'? Or can that be bypassed by using Nextdns?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

It's not a matter of bypassing, it's about achieving the same result by different means.

I don't know what exactly adguard does once those settings are enabled, but a private DNS (or even adguard's free public dns, if you don't want to put in the commitment and prefer a "set it and forget it" approach) gives you both tracking and malware protection (I strongly suggest watching this video to understand what a private DNS does and how)

In general, I think DNS blocking is the easiest, quickest and the most effective way to block ads on your devices

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Here is an alternative Piped link(s): https://piped.video/watch?v=WUG57ynLb8I

Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.

I'm open-source, check me out at GitHub.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Ill check that one out, thanks!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've liked the approach of using pihole for local devices, and then when away using like a local vpn approach to filtering stuff out like personaldnsfilter.

Haven't really looked into paid options.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

You could look into installing PiVPN over your Pi-Hole so you can use it while away from home as well via Wireguard. It is super simple to set up and use it on phones and laptops.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I have two family subscriptions. I find it worth it. It's quite cheap on Stacksocial (even cheaper if you have a discount code).

On top of that, I have one of these routers at home. It comes in-built with Adguard Home. There is a newer, better model coming out soon as well.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

What ads are you trying to block? For a browser use Firefox and uBlock origin. For apps choose apps without ads. F-Droid and alternativeto.net are your friends in finding apps. I basically do not have ads.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The ones in browsers are the ones i see the most i guess. I already have firefox, can we install extensions on android already? Next to that i've got a few games with ads. Also i want something to keep the trackers away.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

There have been Firefox Extensions for a long time. Just a limited number. uBlock Origin is one of them. Reason I say Firefox is two reasons. First why would anyone use a browser from an Ad company. Makes no sense to me. Second there is talk that Google will eliminate some of the APIs good Ad blockers need and Mozilla I think has said they will retain.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If you don't need its HTTPS Filtering feature then just use something like rethinkdns

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

RethinkDNS is good, encrypted DNS and firewall

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I'm using this too! I run it in Home Assistant. I just dont have any vpn setup now, i use the Adguard app

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I honestly prefer to have Nebulo + TraclerControl combined. I never saw any ad on my mobile. Nebulo is great because it uses privacy-focused DNS server, while TrackerConrrol identifies and blocks any tracker as you want.