Blocking sites via Router

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Note: Keyword blocking only works for website URLs that begin with http.:// only. It
does not work for URLs that begin with https://

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Almost every site will use https.

Get a free OpenDNS account and then set up your router to use the OpenDNS servers. As a bonus your internet might feel snappier.

Edit: L-O-L, https is so ubiquitous now that TD won't allow me to write "http" with a : after it. It automatically replaces it with https

I recently setup a docker environment in the cloud with DigitalOcean for this exact purpose. I pay $6/month and run 3 containers.

1. Wireguard VPN server
2. Wireguard GUI
3. AdGuard home

Adguard acts as a DNS server and blocks access to social media services and malicious sites. On its backend I use 1.1.1.3 and 1.0.0.3 for DNS. These filter out adult sites and Malware.

The VPN clients (kids’ cellphones) are configured to use the AdGuard server for DNS. The VPN is configured on their phone to be on automatically and they are restricted from using the app/configuring the connection settings via screen time.

So far this setup has worked really well for us. I wish it were easier to protect our kids online but it is what it is…