Live data from Hacker News

The Beauty of Having a Pi-Hole (2024)

den.dev

21–30 of 211 posts

Re: The Beauty of Having a Pi-Hole (2024)

#21

I really don't understand why people go to the trouble of using Pi-hole that only blocks at the DNS level, instead of using uBlock Origin which can block at the DOM level. uBlock Origin is easier and cheaper to set up, less maintenance, and more effective.

uBlock Origin only works in the browser. And on mobile it only works in Firefox (I think).

Pi-hole blocks for IoT devices, all apps across all smartphones on the network, all programs across all OS's on your network.

Re: The Beauty of Having a Pi-Hole (2024)

#22

I really don't understand why people go to the trouble of using Pi-hole that only blocks at the DNS level, instead of using uBlock Origin which can block at the DOM level. uBlock Origin is easier and cheaper to set up, less maintenance, and more effective.

Not all internet traffic goes through a browser.

Re: The Beauty of Having a Pi-Hole (2024)

#23
post #7

Standard reminder for whenever Pi-Hole gets brought up: You don't actually need a physical Raspberry Pi for this functionality, and you don't even need the Pi-Hole software. It's all just wrappers around dnsmasq[1], which every Linux distribution makes available via their package manager. If you have an old spare Linux system on your LAN already, doing whatever, you can just install and set up dnsmasq and point your…

I was shocked that TFA’s recommended kit was $155! When did Raspberry Pi’s get so pricey?

[deleted]

Re: The Beauty of Having a Pi-Hole (2024)

#24
post #7

Standard reminder for whenever Pi-Hole gets brought up: You don't actually need a physical Raspberry Pi for this functionality, and you don't even need the Pi-Hole software. It's all just wrappers around dnsmasq[1], which every Linux distribution makes available via their package manager. If you have an old spare Linux system on your LAN already, doing whatever, you can just install and set up dnsmasq and point your…

I was shocked that TFA’s recommended kit was $155! When did Raspberry Pi’s get so pricey?

I don't _think_ you need a whole Raspberry Pi 5 kit. It seems like an older Raspberry Pi 3b+ would get the job done for $35 or so. Maybe even a Raspberry Pi Zero ($5) with an micro usb ethernet adapter.

Re: The Beauty of Having a Pi-Hole (2024)

#26
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> read TFA for the iptables config that fixes those apps and devices that bypass local DNS. For example, Don't worry. All the browsers and stuff are bypassing this level of control by moving to DNS-over-HTTPS. You'll either have to deploy a TLS terminating proxy on your network, or give up on this arms race.

Jokes on you, I do have a fortinet which does this.... Oh wait, only up to TLS 1.1 or something and it's slow. I forgot the name of the software but there used to be a few tools to terminate and reencrypt. But yeah dnssec is it's own challenge

You need to get an F5 box instead. :)

Re: The Beauty of Having a Pi-Hole (2024)

#27

I really don't understand why people go to the trouble of using Pi-hole that only blocks at the DNS level, instead of using uBlock Origin which can block at the DOM level. uBlock Origin is easier and cheaper to set up, less maintenance, and more effective.

With pi-hole, you can also block telemetry from smart devices (TVs, dish washers and stuff), and if you run it on a VPN that your phone is connected to, you can also block ads and tracking in phone apps.

As mentioned in the article, pi-hole complements a browser ad block, doesn't replace it.

Re: The Beauty of Having a Pi-Hole (2024)

#28

I really don't understand why people go to the trouble of using Pi-hole that only blocks at the DNS level, instead of using uBlock Origin which can block at the DOM level. uBlock Origin is easier and cheaper to set up, less maintenance, and more effective.

uBlock Origin works only in the browser, right? Pi-hole works on phone apps that have ads (well, most of them, anyway), ads on your TV, and anything else on the network trying to ping servers you don’t want them talking to.

Re: The Beauty of Having a Pi-Hole (2024)

#29
For the cost and simplicity, NextDNS is way easier IMO. Nice quality of life apps that install on your phone and computer to toggle it on/off while on-the-go, while also being able to be setup on the router.

Makes it nice and easy for the non-technical members of the fam.

Re: The Beauty of Having a Pi-Hole (2024)

#30
post #2

In case you’re like a lot of folks in HN, read the title, and say to yourself “already have one”, read TFA for the iptables config that fixes those apps and devices that bypass local DNS. For example, the New York Times app seems to now use its own hard-coded DNS servers. Without having tried it, it looks like TFA has the fix for that. EDIT: replies indicate that I, a person who is barely competent at many network ta…

I was going to say, as a person who used pihole pretty extensively at one point, it may not be enough anymore. I am by no means a network expert, but I do recognize those shortcomings and try to compensate for them. Blanket pihole recommendation may be disservice at this point.
Post reply on HN