Anyone setup a pi-hole? (blackhole for internet ads)

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justoh

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2013
3,686
81
91
"Block Advertisements On Any Device
Network-level blocking allows any device to block ads, regardless of hardware or OS"

So you can run it on Windows, op. What would you need a pi for?
 

R0H1T

Platinum Member
Jan 12, 2013
2,583
164
106
Hmm ... they also offer an Android app. I guess all the app does is switch your DNS entries when installed, then sits back and spies on your device in perpetuity (guessing).
Well if you're looking at it that way then we should all turn off the internet.
 

luv2liv

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2001
3,502
94
91
It took me about an hour to set up. I followed a couple tutorials on YouTube. Most complicated part was figuring out how to set up the pi as the DNS server on my router.

yeah. took me a lot of trial n error to see how to do it in my Verizon router too.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,637
6,521
126
yeah. took me a lot of trial n error to see how to do it in my Verizon router too.
Any pointers on this part? I have FIOS with the default router they give you so I'll be trying to figure that out tonight.
 

NoTine42

Golden Member
Sep 30, 2013
1,387
78
91
"Block Advertisements On Any Device
Network-level blocking allows any device to block ads, regardless of hardware or OS"

So you can run it on Windows, op. What would you need a pi for?
Only on a virtual pi machine running inside a Windows

Pi-hole blocks ads on Windows computers when your router (or Windows TCP/IP setup) directs all DNS requests to the pi running pi-hole. Even though Windows benefits from the pi-hole device, it doesn't run pi-hole.
 

justoh

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2013
3,686
81
91
Only on a virtual pi machine running inside a Windows

Pi-hole blocks ads on Windows computers when your router (or Windows TCP/IP setup) directs all DNS requests to the pi running pi-hole. Even though Windows benefits from the pi-hole device, it doesn't run pi-hole.

Yeah. It's a false claim. It doesn't allow any device to block ads. It allows ads to be blocked on any device. Dishonest developers.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,637
6,521
126
Even if true, it doesn't excuse the developers for false advertising. Is it claimed on the website that any device and os can block ads with this program, or not?
It's not.

It claims that if you run this program it will block ads on any device regardless of what OS that device is running.

Again, you can't interpret.
 

justoh

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2013
3,686
81
91
It's not.

It claims that if you run this program it will block ads on any device regardless of what OS that device is running.

Again, you can't interpret.

Network-level blocking allows any device to block ads, regardless of hardware or OS"

You need to learn how to interpret. It was never an issue what was meant. It's what was stated.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,637
6,521
126
You need to learn how to interpret. It was never an issue what was meant. It's what was stated.
Just keep in mind you're the only one in here (and probably on the internet) having trouble with this.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,637
6,521
126
I got it set up just now it was very simple. It appears to be working however youtube ads still show and from searching it appears there is no solution for it just now.

I also noticed that going to some sites they still are detecting that I have an adblocker even though I'm not running one. I went to Washington Post and it said I have an adblocker running.
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,006
430
136
eBay has $15 off $75 coupon for a few hours.

Any recommendations for a rpi 3 with decent case, power cord and maybe some boards/lights? I already have plenty of msd cards around the house.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,221
17,894
126
eBay has $15 off $75 coupon for a few hours.

Any recommendations for a rpi 3 with decent case, power cord and maybe some boards/lights? I already have plenty of msd cards around the house.
Get a canakit? Plus breakout cable and breadboard. And an arduino mega plus sensor kit
 
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Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
8,173
524
126
I also noticed that going to some sites they still are detecting that I have an adblocker even though I'm not running one. I went to Washington Post and it said I have an adblocker running.

Why does that surprise you? They can detect whether or not they're serving ads to you. If they're not, then you must be blocking them.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,637
6,521
126
eBay has $15 off $75 coupon for a few hours.

Any recommendations for a rpi 3 with decent case, power cord and maybe some boards/lights? I already have plenty of msd cards around the house.
I have 2 of these.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073W5MQGB/

I got the black/clear one and the black one. The black/clear one looks better IMO. I got the all black one for my pi hole just to see what the case looked like and didn't really care since it's in a closet anyways. But the black/clear one is for my RetroPie unit and IMO it looks a lot slicker. I was going to get the black one as my first one but after seeing the pictures from reviews I liked the black/clear one better. The PSU that comes with it is also 5v which is recommended for RetroPie. It comes with 3 heat sinks and a fan too. I think I'm taking advantage of those with the RetroPie one because I overclocked it.
 

pete6032

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2010
8,143
3,580
136
I got it set up just now it was very simple. It appears to be working however youtube ads still show and from searching it appears there is no solution for it just now.

I also noticed that going to some sites they still are detecting that I have an adblocker even though I'm not running one. I went to Washington Post and it said I have an adblocker running.
The pi-hole subreddit has some threads about blocking YouTube ads if you haven't checked there yet.
 

Kwatt

Golden Member
Jan 3, 2000
1,602
12
81
Set up 1 of these today and have been playing/testing it.

AOL has a auto playing video (I dislike those).
Using Chromium with ABPro ,AB+ , and uBlock Origin the video played with pihole silence.

Reason enough to keep for me if it stops auto playing video on others sights also.
 

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
8,173
524
126
Set up 1 of these today and have been playing/testing it.

AOL has a auto playing video (I dislike those).
Using Chromium with ABPro ,AB+ , and uBlock Origin the video played with pihole silence.

Reason enough to keep for me if it stops auto playing video on others sights also.

I don't see how defeating ad server DNS can defeat autoplay unless the video is being served by a known ad server. I use a separate plugin for Chrome that defeats auto playing videos.
 

bbhaag

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2011
7,333
2,913
146
How does this work? As a DNS proxy by blacklisting hosts and domains, or by some other means?

Edit: I watched the little YouTube video. Yes, it works through DNS.

Found this guide for doing the same through a Ubiquiti EdgeRouter, I have an EdgeRouter Lite (ERLite-3), so may try it out.

https://help.ubnt.com/hc/en-us/arti...d-blocking-content-filtering-using-EdgeRouter
I have an edgerouterx. I wish I understood half of the info you linked to because it would be cool to try. I love tech but networking makes me want to blow my brains out. Before the guy in your link even gets to step one he mentions sudo....I'm out.

On a side note why does everyone in networking/it talk in acronyms? It drives me crazy....
 

BarkingGhostar

Diamond Member
Nov 20, 2009
8,410
1,617
136
I have an edgerouterx. I wish I understood half of the info you linked to because it would be cool to try. I love tech but networking makes me want to blow my brains out. Before the guy in your link even gets to step one he mentions sudo....I'm out.

On a side note why does everyone in networking/it talk in acronyms? It drives me crazy....
sudo uncrazy -r crazy
 

Kwatt

Golden Member
Jan 3, 2000
1,602
12
81
I don't see how defeating ad server DNS can defeat autoplay unless the video is being served by a known ad server. I use a separate plugin for Chrome that defeats auto playing videos.

unless the video is being served by a known ad server

That must be it. It does not stop it everywhere.

Also, if you have Comcast the modem I have from them the DNS server can't be changed in the modem. So, you must set the DNS on every device.

Easy install though. I did it 3 times yesterday:) I was experimenting.

Put the SD card in a writer, create a empty text file save as "ssh".
Move the file to the /boot partition. Install the card in the PI. Connect the network cable and power cable. Mouse, keyboard, and monitor connection not needed. Everything else can be done remotely. Using copy and paste.


Before I installed pihole I connected it to a TV (HDMI) and watched youtube videos (only a couple) it seemed to work well.


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