Pi-Hole 6 Explored
- pi-Hole 6 appeared a few weeks ago.Since then,there have been a few small bug fixes and it's now up to version 6.0.5.
- In the last year, web browser suppliers may be actively working to make users trust them less.
- Meanwhile, Google is nearing the end of the process of turning off the extension system that uBlock origin uses.
Ad Blocking with Pi-hole: A Extensive Guide
Table of Contents
- Ad Blocking with Pi-hole: A Extensive Guide
- Ad Blocking with Pi-hole: An Extensive Guide
- What is pi-hole and how does it work as an ad blocker?
- Why should I consider using Pi-hole for ad-blocking?
- What are the system requirements for running Pi-hole?
- How do I install and set up Pi-hole?
- What are the advantages of using the Docker container version of Pi-hole?
- What are the alternatives to Pi-hole for ad-blocking?
- What are the pros and cons of using Privoxy as an ad blocker?
- How do I update pi-hole?
- Is setting up pi-hole worth the effort?
- Pi-hole vs. Customary Ad Blockers: A feature Comparison
A new, lightweight version of Pi-hole is available. How easy is it to block advertising on your home network?
pi-Hole 6 appeared a few weeks ago.Since then,there have been a few small bug fixes and it’s now up to version 6.0.5. The new release is lighter weight and has fewer external dependencies: it no longer needs PHP or an external web server. If you run the Docker container version on top of another Linux OS, it’s lighter still, as the container is now based on Alpine Linux instead of Debian. Is it really worth setting up a dedicated ad-blocker on your own network? It was decided it was high time to try.
Why Now?
In the last year, web browser suppliers may be actively working to make users trust them less. In 2024, Mozilla bought an ad company; in March 2025, it removed its promise not to sell your info.
Meanwhile, Google is nearing the end of the process of turning off the extension system that uBlock origin uses. It’s gone from chrome 134, which came out the same day as Firefox 136. Once Chrome updates, you must either switch to the less-capable uBlock Origin Lite or an equivalent,or lose ad-blocking altogether. This also goes for anything based on this or subsequent versions of Chrome, such as Microsoft Edge. While downstream vendors may be able to keep the older Manifest V2 around for a while, sooner or later, they face the choice of updating to a newer version of Chromium and dropping it, or forking Chromium’s 45-million-line codebase.
Enter Pi-hole. Pi-hole takes over as your network’s name server and silently redirects all web requests to known ad-server addresses to a DNS sinkhole. Everything else is passed upstream to the public DNS server of your choice. Only requests for ads silently fail, and the rest of the page loads as normal. The result is you see fewer ads.
What You need
In terms of the computer power it needs,this is a very simple task. It’s like putting up a diversion sign, rather than a bridge. The pi-hole doesn’t carry traffic, it merely diverts some of it. As a result, the requirements for the system running the Pi-hole are minimal.
A Raspberry Pi Zero W will do the job, but it’s a bit underpowered. A Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ is a better bet, and a Pi 4 Model B is total overkill. Any old Linux box will do, though, or even a VM. The project offers Docker images for various processor architectures, including ARM, so it can run on almost anything.
the setup process is straightforward. Download the OS image, flash it to an SD card, boot the Pi, and run the installer. The installer will ask you a few questions, such as which DNS server to use, and then configure everything for you.
Once installed, you need to configure your router to use the pi-hole as its DNS server.This is usually done in the router’s web interface. The exact steps vary depending on your router, but it usually involves finding the DNS settings and entering the IP address of your Pi-hole.
Example of a Custom Element
This is a custom HTML element to demonstrate how to extend HTML.
In case your router won’t let you change its DHCP settings, another option is to turn the router’s DHCP off and use pi-hole’s built-in DHCP instead.
Is It Worth It?
So far, so good, and a definite affirmative. Comparing notes, some other vultures are also running Pi-hole. Ads consume a surprising amount of the bulk of some sites these days, so there are both speed gains and data usage reductions to be had. If you’re on a metered connection, it’s definitely worth a try.
Whether this sounds worth the effort depends on your personal preferences. for us, the setup and configuration process was considerably quicker than the time it took to find the Pi and a suitable power supply, plus a spare SD card, and hook it into the switch on our server shelf. (We also configured the unattended-upgrades tool to keep Pi OS fresh.)
As it happens, home NAS servers run FreeBSD, not Linux, so running a Pi-hole VM would take more resources than geriatric HP Microservers could really spare – and of course, a NAS box uses a lot more electricity, as well as emitting heat and noise. If you have a Linux box that’s always running anyway, though, your mileage may vary.
The setup process was easy and fast, but you do need to tweak your router settings. Nothing has been found that isn’t working right.
A small potential snag is that as the same system runs on multiple distros, Pi-hole lacks its own repository, so updates must be performed manually – even though scheduling that might potentially be investigated.
Alternatives
There are other ways. As an example,it is possible to run an OS-level ad blocker. Most linux distributions include Privoxy, as a notable example, and you can also install it on Windows or macOS, where it runs in the background, filtering requests from your browsers. Download and install it,then go into your network settings and set your web proxy to localhost:8118 for both HTTP and HTTPS.
Privoxy has pros and cons. Advantages include that it works for all your browsers, and for road warriors, it travels with you and filters any network you happen to use. (The exceptionally dedicated could configure a VPN and access their home pi-hole from elsewhere, but that definitely sounds like to much work.)
The main drawback of a filtering proxy is that you need to run copies on all your computers – and it won’t help with phones, tablets, smart TVs, and other devices on which you can’t do that.
Bootnote
If any readers have built a Pi-hole allow-list to whitelist sites, please share in the comments.
Ad Blocking with Pi-hole: An Extensive Guide
What is pi-hole and how does it work as an ad blocker?
Pi-hole is a network-level ad blocker that acts as your network’s DNS server. It redirects requests to known ad-server addresses to a DNS sinkhole, preventing ads from loading on any device connected to your network. Other requests are passed upstream to teh public DNS server of your choice, ensuring normal web browsing.
Why should I consider using Pi-hole for ad-blocking?
You should consider using Pi-hole as:
Browser changes are limiting ad-blocking extensions: Web browsers are actively working to limit the functionality of ad-blocking extensions.
Network-wide protection: pi-hole blocks ads on all devices connected to your network, including phones, tablets, and smart TVs, where browser extensions are not always available.
Improved browsing speed and reduced data usage: By blocking ads, pi-hole can lead to faster page loading times and reduced data consumption, which is especially beneficial on metered connections.
Lightweight and efficient: Pi-hole is designed to be lightweight, with minimal system requirements.
Increased Privacy: Blocks connections to known advertising servers, improving privacy.
What are the system requirements for running Pi-hole?
pi-hole has minimal system requirements and can run on various hardware options:
Minimal: Raspberry Pi Zero W (though slightly underpowered)
Recommended: Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+
Overkill: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
Alternatively, you can use any old Linux box or a Virtual Machine (VM).Pi-hole provides Docker images for different processor architectures, including ARM.
How do I install and set up Pi-hole?
The setup process for Pi-hole involves the following steps:
- Download and flash the OS image: Download a suitable OS image for your chosen hardware and flash it to an SD card.
- Boot the device and run the installer: Boot the device from the SD card and run the Pi-hole installer.
- Configure the DNS server: The installer will guide you through a series of questions, including which DNS server to use.
- Configure your router: Once installed, configure your router to use the Pi-hole’s IP address as its DNS server. This is usually done through the router’s web interface.
If your router doesn’t allow you to change DNS settings, you can disable the router’s DHCP server and enable the Pi-hole’s built-in DHCP server rather.
What are the advantages of using the Docker container version of Pi-hole?
The docker container version of Pi-hole offers several advantages:
Lighter weight: The container is based on Alpine Linux, which is smaller and more efficient than Debian.
Easy deployment: Docker containers simplify deployment and management.
Portability: Docker containers can run on almost any system that supports Docker, regardless of the underlying operating system.
What are the alternatives to Pi-hole for ad-blocking?
One option to Pi-hole is using an OS-level ad blocker like Privoxy, which works as a web proxy.
What are the pros and cons of using Privoxy as an ad blocker?
Here are the pros and cons of using Privoxy:
Pros:
Works for all browsers on the system where its installed.
Can be used on the go to filter any network you use.
Cons:
Needs to be installed and configured on each computer separately.
* Doesn’t work on devices where you can’t install it, such as phones, tablets, and smart TVs.
How do I update pi-hole?
Unlike some software, Pi-hole lacks its own repository, so updates must be performed manually.
Is setting up pi-hole worth the effort?
Yes,setting up Pi-hole is generally worth the effort,especially if you value faster browsing speeds,reduced data usage,and network-wide ad blocking. The setup process is relatively easy and fast.
Pi-hole vs. Customary Ad Blockers: A feature Comparison
| Feature | Pi-hole | Traditional Ad Blockers (e.g., uBlock origin) |
| ———————– | ——————————————– | ———————————————- |
| Scope | Network-wide | Browser-specific |
| Devices Supported | All devices on the network | Onyl devices with browser extensions |
| Performance | Can improve network-wide performance | May slightly impact browser performance |
| Resource Usage | Minimal, runs on a dedicated device/VM | Utilizes browser resources |
| Setup Complexity | Requires initial setup of Pi-hole device | simple browser extension installation |
| Maintenance | Requires occasional updates | Automatic updates through browser |
| Privacy | Blocks ads at the DNS level | Works within the context of the browser |