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Ad blocking
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Instructions:
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* Download/install the latest NetGuard version [from GitHub ](https://github.com/M66B/NetGuard/releases )
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* Enable the setting '*Filter traffic*' in the advanced options (always enabled on Android 5.0 or earlier)
* Enable the setting '*Block domain names*' in the advanced options (default enabled)
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* Import or download [a hosts file ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_(file )) using the NetGuard backup settings
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* Disable browser compression (Chrome: three dot menu > Settings > Data Saver > Off)
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* Wait 10 minutes to let the Android DNS cache time out
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* Test if it works by opening [this page ](http://www.netguard.me/test )
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* Enjoy ad blocking, but don't forget to support application developers in other ways
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Note that:
* applications, like the browser, may cache data, so you might need to clear caches
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* applications, browsers mostly, that have a *"data saver"* like feature that proxies requests through their servers (eg. Opera w/ Turbo, Opera Max app, Puffin, Chrome w/ data saver, UC Browser, Yandex w/ Turbo, Apus Browser, KK Browser, Onavo Extend, Maxthon) will not have ads blocked as NetGuard can't even see those domain requests
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* the test page only works using the hosts file downloaded from [here ](https://www.netguard.me/hosts ) (the default)
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* YouTube ads are not domain based and cannot be blocked
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* NetGuard does not use the IP adresses in the hosts file, because it doesn't route blocked domains to localhost
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* **ad blocking is not available when NetGuard was installed from the Play store!**
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The NetGuard version from GitHub:
* is signed with the same signature as the version from the Play store, so any purchases will be restored
* will automatically notify you if there are updates (this can be switched off in the settings)
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Which hosts (ad servers) will be blocked depends on the hosts file being used.
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NetGuard provides the [StevenBlack hosts file ](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts ) download with the following additions:
* reports.crashlytics.com
* settings.crashlytics.com
* e.crashlytics.com
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You can automatically download a hosts file by sending this intent with your favorite automation tool, like Tasker:
*eu.faircode.netguard.DOWNLOAD_HOSTS_FILE*
For example using [adb ](https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb.html ) from the command line:
*adb shell am startservice -a eu.faircode.netguard.DOWNLOAD_HOSTS_FILE*
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NetGuard does not concatenate hosts files, so you will have to use a source which does this for you or do it yourself.
You can check the number of hosts (domains) imported by pulling the NetGuard notification down using two fingers.
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Apart from using a hosts file, you can block most in-app ads by blocking this address for Google Play services:
*googleads.g.doubleclick.net/443*
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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 Play store.**
