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Ad Blocking with NetGuard
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Instructions (you need to follow **all** the steps):
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1. Download/install the latest NetGuard version [from GitHub ](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/releases ) (ad blocking is not possible with the Play store version because Google does not allow ad blocking apps in the Play store)
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1. Enable the setting *'Filter traffic'* in the advanced options (three dot menu > Settings > Advanced options > Filter traffic; default is disabled except always enabled in Android 5.0 and earlier)
1. Enable the setting *'Block domain names'* in the advanced options (three dot menu > Settings > Advanced options > Block domain names; default is enabled)
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1. Import or download [a hosts file ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_(file )) using the NetGuard backup settings (three dot menu > Settings > Backup > Download hosts file)
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1. Disable browser compression (in Chrome: three dot menu > Settings > Lite mode > Off)
1. Wait at least 10 minutes to let the Android DNS cache time out (clear via Chrome: [chrome://net-internals/#dns ](chrome://net-internals/#dns ))
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1. Test to see if ad blocking works by opening [this page ](http://www.netguard.me/test )
1. Enjoy ad blocking, but don't forget to support application developers and website authors in other ways
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< br / >
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Troubleshooting:
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Because of routing bugs, some devices/Android versions require:
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* the advanced option *Manage system applications* to be enabled and/or
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* the network option *Subnet routing* to be disabled and/or
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* two (not just one) DNS server addresses to be set in the advanced options, for example 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 or more privacy friendly [these ](https://dns.watch/ )
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* disabling of private DNS
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< br / >
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Note that:
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* applications, like web browsers, may cache data, so you may need to clear caches
* applications, browsers mostly, that have a *"data saver"* -like feature that proxies requests through their servers (eg. Opera w/ Turbo, Opera Max, Puffin, Chrome w/ data saver, UC Browser, Yandex w/ Turbo, Apus Browser, KK Browser, Onavo Extend, Maxthon) will not have ads blocked as NetGuard cannot see those domain requests
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* applications, browsers mostly, can have a private DNS feature (Chrome: three-dots menu, Settings, Privacy, Use secure DNS, turn off)
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* applications, including browser, can be system apps, which require managing system apps in the advanced settings to be enabled
* the Android always-on VPN setting *Block connections without VPN* will result in stop sending domain names to the VPN after some time
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* YouTube ads are not domain-based, and thus cannot be blocked with NetGuard
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* NetGuard ignores the IP addresses in the hosts file, because it does not route blocked domains to localhost
* When NetGuard imports the hosts file, it automatically discards any duplicates entries, so duplicate entries are not a problem and have no performance impact after the file is imported
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* you can check the number of hosts (domains) imported by pulling the NetGuard notification down using two fingers if your version of Android supports that functionality
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* wildcards are not supported due to performance and battery usage reasons
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* it is not possible to edit the hosts file (change/add/delete domain names) with NetGuard
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* you can disable ad blocking by disabling the setting *'Block domain names'* in the advanced options
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* you cannot exclude a single app from ad blocking because Android resolves domain names on behalf of all apps
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* **ad blocking is provided as-is**, see also [here ](https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=71805655&postcount=4668 )
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* **ad blocking is not available when NetGuard was installed from the Google Play store!** (disable automatic updates of NetGuard in the Play store application)
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< br / >
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The NetGuard version from GitHub:
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* is signed with the same signature as the version from the Google Play store, so any purchases will be restored (this will not happen with for example the F-Droid version)
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* will automatically notify you if there are updates available via GitHub (this can be switched off in NetGuard's settings)
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< br / >
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Which hosts (ad servers) will be blocked depends on the hosts file being used.
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NetGuard downloads the [StevenBlack hosts file ](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts ) by default.
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< br / >
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Automation:
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You can automatically download a hosts file by sending this service intent with your favorite automation tool, like Tasker:
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`eu.faircode.netguard.DOWNLOAD_HOSTS_FILE`
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For example using [adb ](https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb.html ) from the command line:
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`adb shell am startservice -a eu.faircode.netguard.DOWNLOAD_HOSTS_FILE`
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< br / >
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Apart from using a hosts file, you can block most in-app ads by blocking this address in the access list of Google Play services:
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*googleads.g.doubleclick.net/443*
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You'll need to enable filtering and (temporarily) logging for this (you can do this by using the *Configure* button; check both options)
and you'll need to wait until the address appears (you can speed this up by opening some apps with in-app ads).
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Note that ads are likely being cached, so this may not take effect immediately.
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< br / >
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An alternate way to block advertisements is by using special DNS servers, like these:
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* [AdGuard DNS ](https://adguard.com/en/adguard-dns/overview.html ) - Free
* [Alternate DNS ](https://alternate-dns.com/ ) - 14 day free trial
* [NoAd ](https://noad.zone/ ) - Not working as of 2017 June 03
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Be sure to read the privacy policies of these services as they might log your DNS requests.
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You can set DNS server addresses for all connection types in NetGuard's *Advanced options* .
Note that when you set two DNS server addresses, the default (operating system/network provider) DNS servers will not be used anymore.
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Feel free to let me know about other servers or request to add them in alphabetic order by doing a pull request.
< br / >
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**Please do not mention this feature in Google Play store comments, since Google does not allow ad blocking applications in the Google Play store.**
