How do you filter ads and trackers outside of a browser while still using a VPN service?

Privacy
1

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?

2

Use a VPN with built in ad and tracker blockers, like Mullvad.

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3

The browser utilizes a custom DoH,
while the system employs a custom DoQ.

All traffic is monitored and manually approved through Little Snitch.

In the event that the server becomes offline, a fallback Quad9 is initiated.

If Quad9 is unavailable, all traffic is blocked.

4

You can use Mullvad DNS with (or without) their VPN. iVPN has the “AntiTracker” feature (you must be a subscriber to use it). Proton has the “Netshield” feature for premium users.

If you want more customization, then Windscribe might be good. They allow you to choose what your DNS will block (only “malware” by default) and they allow you to choose a custom DNS. You might want to use it with ControlID, which they operate (it has both free and paid offers and both can be used with or without their VPN). I’m not sure though if its use might cause a DNS leak.

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5

No it does not?

  1. Download the latest version on F-Droid or GitHub or website.
    • GitHub and website flavours are compatible with the Play Store flavour, as in you can update to GitHub or website flavour if you’ve downloaded the current version from the Play Store (and vice versa).
  2. Go to Configure → DNS → On-device blocklists.
  3. Download the blocklists, if you haven’t already.
  4. Once downloaded, set up the lists from Simple (blocklist groups like Adult, Piracy, Social Media, Gambling, Cryptomining etc) or Advanced (individual blocklists like those from HaGeZi, ShadowWhisperer, StevenBlack, EasyList, TBLP etc) screens.
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6

Protons Netshield is ok, it’s a very light list and they don’t show you their blocklist. I switched to IVPN and have been very happy with it. They have different tiers of aggression with their blocklists (they call it antitracker) or they have other lists you can choose from like Hagezi Ultimate. If you hit them up in their subreddit they usually give you a free 10 day code so you can trial it out.

7

I installed the app from FDroid and it does in fact have on-device blocklists.

I did a search and found this comment, https://reddit.com/r/rethinkdns/comments/1f7ydjo/git_vs_fdroid_google_play_app_version/

After v055b, we hit numerous bugs (and unbelievably difficult ones) in our WireGuard integration. Released v055c and subsequent versions to fix the most annoying bugs among them.

We paused Play Store builds at v055e because each new version since has had its own glaringly annoying bugs (that were of course fixed in the subsequent versions). Why? Play Store brings in the most number of Rethink users (per our estimate), and we decided to halt publishing there until we can figure out how to stablize Rethink’s feature-set affected by WireGuard.

Pausing roll-out like this is a one-off.

Typically, you can expect all flavours (GitHub / Website / Play Store & F-Droid) to be at the same version.

If you’re feeling particularly adventurous: You can temporairly seamlessly update (without having to reinstall) to the GitHub / Website version if you’re currently using Rethink installed from the Play Store. And then later, when Play Store catches up, update from Play Store again.

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