Paco Cohe asks:
I’m blocking several websites at the router and even some at the etc/hosts file. Internet lag occurs while my browser “waits” or times out on these blocked sites.
There must be a better way! Basically, site blocking is slowing me down. But I want to keep up doing it. So, I’d like get advice on the best method(s) for blocking ad-servers and tracking sites with minimal impact to my speed.
Note:
My internet connection is always around 30 Mbps down
I have lots of RAM
Examples of sites I’ve blocked at the router:
outbrain.com
brightcove.com
facebook.net
googlesyndication.com
sharethis.com
9 Answers -
DalSan Mack
June 21, 2012What I could recommend, if you do not have an enormous list to blacklist, would to use OpenDNS. It is not a program to install, and only uses the DNS servers settings that you can put into your router. Go to http://www.opendns.com to find out more, it loads pages a little faster, and you can control the settings from anywhere in the world as long as you know the ip address of the router or computer you use OpenDNS. I have used it extensively, and ran into little problems, although if you use the built in checkbox list, it may block some sites that you have to then whitelist within the OpenDNS settings. It is also very safe as it tries to stop you from going to known phishing sites and other dangerous sites. Also, in the DashBoard, it will show you if you wish, the sites that are block that have been attempted to go to and how many times, as well as the time and when the most usage of your internet is throughout the day. Highly recommended and used worldwide, and I am a happy member.
ryandigweed0
June 21, 2012If your router is DD-WRT compatible, then maybe you can install DD-WRT, and then you can block a few sites, otherwise you can also upload the Host file to your router if it’s got enough of flash memory, and so it’ll block it directly. I find that the best. Although i don’t have a compatible router
I’vebeen wanting to try DD_WRT for awhile a now. And my router is compatible. But my router already allows site blocking. I’m sure there’s a great benefit to flashing the router to DD-WrT …. and that’s what I’ll probably do.
Currently i’m blocking faceb**k.net , for example and i’m still often finding my browser “waiting for connect.faceb**k.net and other sites that my router is supposedly blocking?
@DalSan I’m a big OpenDNS fan. and have been known to install it on the odd friend or family’s router if given the chance.
never tried their Dashboard feature until you mentioned it, thanks.
@Oron I will try some firewall blocking with several of these sites that keep helping themselves to my bandwidth. perhaps my netgear WNDR3300 is not up to the site tblocking task?
June 22, 2012I love the Dashboard, caught my stepson millions if times trying to find porn late at night, and talking in chatrooms giving out personal info like address and phone number to complete strangers. Hopefully you get it all worked out. Definitely try out DD_WRT and the other options to try to lessen then load from the computer end. I haven’t used DD_WRT but probably will once I can get a compatible router. I would try out which sites are blocked better on each of the suggestions because if you overlap blocking too much it may disrupt your connection in a similar fashion that you are already having. Let us know how it works out for you as I am very interested in this as well to protect my computers from the same things.
June 23, 2012DalSan— Thanks for the advice on the OpenDNS dashboard.
I’ve got that running now and there’s some great service and site blocking options.
RyanDigweed— I put the DD_WRT on my Netgear wndr3300.
It was a bit convoluted on the site, and required a ton of time to follow links to finally get the two files i needed. But it’s actually really easy to Flash DD-WRT on Netgear: The Web GUI lets you upgrade just like stock firmware.
I will say, now that I have flashed my router: I will probably never run stock firmware again my home network.
My dreams have come true! 1/2 joking.
I did a facetime video call with my phone – Excellent audio/video for the whole 20 minute call.
I’m able to see the Memory/CPU usage, properly Config OpenDNS as my full-time DNS server.
DD-WRT allows passthrough for OpenVPN, boost TX power & channel width, Block Anonymous WAN Requests (ping)
Filter Multicast
Filter WAN NAT Redirection
Filter IDENT ,
and last, but not least, I want to properly configure p2p for optimal downloads and seeding without choking the whole network.
tl;dr (too long; didn’t read) Conclusion: FLASH your router to opensource firmware if you haven’t already. I tried years ago but was too impatient to give it a fair try.
thanks for advice everyone!
July 18, 2012Oron
June 21, 2012You can use opendns as suggested by DalSan. Blocking them at the router or hosts file as you’re currently doing would also work, and you can also set up a black list on your firewall (some firewall packages are easier to set up than others in this respect).
If you are only talking about web pages, another approach would be to use the Adblock extension or one of its relatives such as Adblock +, and set up a list of blocked sites there.
Unless your list is absolutely huge, none of those methods should slow your access at all. If anything, they will speed it up a little in preventing certain files from being downloaded, which is presumably what you are after.
FIDELIS
June 22, 2012Hello, you could also try ghostery for chrome extension:
http://www.ghostery.com/download
Shehan Nirmal
June 23, 2012I think you should use a firewall software and block the websites using the firewall… this may not related to your router, but I think it’ll work fine… try that trick and let me know the result…
Andre
June 30, 2012I agree with DalSan Mack, I used OpenDNS and for that matter have used the service for years, is offers completely hassle free filtering, as well as forming an important layer in my AntiMalWare defense.
Irshaad Abdool
July 11, 2012you router probable has a whitelist function, add the allowed sites there or use the blacklist/blocklist feature where you can enter the lists of the sites your want to block.
some routers have parental control with site blockers, you can also use it
venkatp16
August 26, 2012it could be the problem with your DNS server. Try with any other better DNS server which could fetch the pages at faster spped.
ex : 4.2.2.2 or 8.8.8.8
Ashley C?rdwell
September 6, 2012if you block websites of course they “waits” or times out”.