Andy Walker / Android Authority
Keeping distracting ads from infiltrating my Android phone has become a necessity rather than a luxury. Blocking them not only saves me time and sanity, but also prevents me from miss-clicking a potentially malicious link that could prompt me to download a random app. This is more of an issue for inexperienced smartphone users, but it’s nonetheless a core reason I prefer batting ads away rather than ignoring them.
I’m not suggesting that ads aren’t the source of essential cash flow for developers and services, but considering my experiences with deceitful ads and unskippable disruptions, I’ve taken a firm stand.
For many users, the Private DNS feature paired with an adblocking DNS is more than enough to keep annoyances and security risks off their phones, but it’s not for me. Instead, for the past few years, I’ve relied on a third-party app to block ads on my Android phone. My current choice is Blokada.
How do you block ads on your Android phone? 52 votes I use the Private DNS feature. 58 % I use a third-party app, like Blokada or an alternative. 29 % I don't block ads on my Android phone. 8 % I use another solution (elaborate in the comments). 6 %
Is Private DNS not good enough for me?
Andy Walker / Android Authority
Let’s first touch on the Private DNS feature. DNS, or the Domain Name System, is a necessary service that converts web addresses into IP addresses. It’s an essential process for loading content from the internet.
Android usually uses a default DNS service, but with the Private DNS feature, you can specify which service you want to use. This gives you a certain amount of control over which domain names are resolved and which are not. Some DNS services specifically block ads and other malicious content.
Using a Private DNS has its advantages. It’s relatively simple to set up, and since it’s already baked into Android, you don’t need to install anything else to get it up and running. Additionally, since your phone isn’t running any other apps in the background, it should theoretically reduce battery drain and improve performance on slower devices. As a set-it-and-forget-it solution, it’s also a splendid ad-blocking option for those who are less technically inclined or those who don’t want to actively manage another thing on their phones.
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