Use your router's settings to restrict access to undesirable sites.
Use your router's settings to restrict access to undesirable sites.
Have you thought about verifying if your router model is compatible with any of the open-source firmware projects like FreshTomato, DD-WRT or OpenWRT? FreshTomato includes an integrated ad-blocking tool that lets you set up domain and subdomain blocks. You can also manually add blacklists and whitelists. If a suitable list exists, you could restrict access to specific content on your network or even per host. I often combine a ready-made blocklist with custom additions for my regular use. It works well for me. The compatibility chart doesn’t mention your EA6350 v4, but it does list versions 1 and 2, so you might check the forums for builds that fit your hardware. Sometimes, a polite request can lead to a tailored version. The support team there tends to be very helpful. The documentation for the ad-block feature is being updated, making it a bit unclear at the moment, but it’s worth reviewing. Begin with the bottom section, which targets beginners. Which DNS filtering service have you attempted that seemed to stop working?
I don’t use a DNS filtering service. I’m here for you! Your information might just be the answer I require! Thanks!
Your static DNS settings have been updated, yet you're still able to reach PornHub. This might indicate a temporary issue or misconfiguration. Double-check your settings and ensure they're correctly applied.
Before giving an answer, I found Cloudflare Warp installed. Now it doesn't connect to PornHub, which is good. Even when I disable Warp, it still blocks me, so maybe auto-renewal worked and that didn't help—it's still blocked. The next thing I need to figure out is how to configure IPv6 with those settings: Primary DNS 2606:4700:4700::1113, Secondary DNS 2606:4700:4700::1003. I haven't seen this in the LinkSys EA6350 v4 settings.
DNS filtering tools like Cloudflare or EasyDNS depend on your device making plaintext DNS queries. If you enable DoH or other secure/dark DNS settings on your client devices, you’ll have full freedom to access any domain without limits. I think there’s no workaround for this. I’m not sure what WARP actually is, but make sure all your devices don’t use private or secure DNS methods, DoH, or DNSSEC. Some Apple products might use them by default. Whether you can change this on each device depends on the device type and manufacturer. You should also confirm that your children’s devices aren’t set to use alternative DNS servers, otherwise the filtering won’t work. Routers may offer options to block DoH requests, but I’m not certain. Also remember, this only stops DNS lookups—if a child has the IP address of a site they want to reach and their app supports it, filtering won’t stop them. Edited February 26, 2023 by Shplad Additional points
WARP seems to build on the 1.1.1.1/1.1.1.3 Cloudflare DNS setup. It changes how your device connects to the Internet into a newer, faster protocol. I’m not sure if they’ve turned on DoH or similar features. It’s frustrating trying to keep things secure from within themselves.
The information you shared contains valuable insights. The speed claims might be affected by VPN protocols, which can actually slow things down. Caching at the VPN end could improve performance. Warp availability seems limited across platforms, so it’s wise to verify compatibility. Check your devices—some may not support WARP. Your experience as a psychometrist and counselor gives you a strong perspective on supporting kids effectively. Keep going!