Guidelines 🔖
- Prevent overblocking by utilizing the law of diminishing returns (e.g., using sane, quality blocklists; allowing most TLDs; etc.).
- Pass the girlfriend test with few exceptions. These deviations are documented throughout the guide.
Security 👮
Security settings protects your data from harm, theft, and unauthorized use.
Threat Intelligence Feeds 1
Use Threat Intelligence Feeds
AI-Driven Threat Detection
Enable AI-Driven Threat Detection
Google Safe Browsing 1 2 3 4
Enable Google Safe Browsing
Cryptojacking Protection 1
Enable Cryptojacking Protection
DNS Rebinding Protection 1 2
Enable DNS Rebinding Protection
IDN Homograph Attacks Protection
Enable Homograph Attacks Protection
Typosquatting Protection 1
Enable Typosquatting Protection
Domain Generation Algorithms (DGAs) Protection
Enable DGA Protection
Block Newly Registered Domains (NRDs) 1 2 3
⚠️ Blocking NRDs may cause false positives occasionally. Be selective when adding NRDs to your allowlist; and, when you do this, NEVER give sensitive information to a NRD. If you plan to set-and-forget your configuration, disable this setting.
Block Newly Registered Domains (NRDs)
Block Dynamic DNS Hostnames 1 2 3
Enable Block Dynamic DNS Hostnames
Block Parked Domains 1
Block Parked Domains
Block Top-Level Domains (TLDs) 1 2 3 4
⚠️ Blocking TLDs will cause false positives. This list may be unusable if you often visit domains that use these blocked TLDs. Add sites affected to your allowlist if they are not malicious. If you plan to set-and-forget your configuration, skip this setting.
.work
.fit
.surf
.cn
.info [users may exclude due to overblocking; see https://github.com/yokoffing/NextDNS-Config#info-tld]
-
.agency
.bid
.cam
.casa
.cf
.ci
.cricket
.fun
.ga
.gq
.icu
.live
.loan
.ml
.monster
.online
.ooo
.rest
.tk
.top
.win
Block Child Sexual Abuse Material
Block Child Sexual Abuse Material
Privacy 🔒
Privacy features block certain requests so that companies cannot track your information and browsing history.
Privacy is a spectrum: Similar to security protection, what you need varies on your threat model, interest, and skillset. (You can watch this short video to understand the difference between security and privacy.)
Blocklists 1
Blocklists are community generated lists that block ads and trackers. They can be categorized into five tiers of coverage:
- None: no breakage; true set-and-forget; NextDNS still protects against known malicious threats (see Security) but will allow ads and trackers; ideal for router profiles
- Basic: rare breakage; lenient protection; very forgiving towards trackers in comparison to other lists
- Balanced: minimal breakage; usually doesn't interfere with user experience; allowlist occasionally
- Strict: moderate breakage; prioritizes privacy over user experience; will need to build a personal allowlist
- Aggressive: excessive breakage; use on a separate profile to lockdown single-purpose devices
Here's a compliation of popular blocklists available in NextDNS:
| Basic | Balanced | Strict | Aggressive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hosts (mini) | 1Hosts (Lite) | 1Hosts (Pro) | 1Hosts (Xtra) |
| oisd | oisd | NextDNS Ads & Trackers Blocklist | Goodbye Ads |
| NoTrack Tracker Blocklist | Lightswitch05 - Ads & Tracking | Energized Ultimate |
From my testing and user feedback, Balanced is a great tier to use if you're trying DNS-level blocking for the first time.
Native Tracking Protection 1
Add all the device brands that you use. There's no advantage in adding brands you don't have; however, there’s no disadvantage in adding unused brands, either.
Xiaomi
Huawei
Samsung
Amazon Alexa
Windows
Apple
Roku
Sonos
Block Disguised Third-Party Trackers 1 2 3 4
Block Disguised Third-Party Trackers
Allow Affiliate & Tracking Links 1 2
Allow Affiliate & Tracking Links
Parental Control 👪
YouTube Restricted Mode
Enforce YouTube Restricted Mode
Block Bypass Methods 1
Block Bypass Methods
Denylist ⛔
Denylist entries block any requests from that source.
N/A
Allowlist ✅
Allowlist entries override any blocks.
info (TLD)
dnscrypt.info
keepass.info
scammer.info
apowersoft.info
pop-planet.info
privatebin.info
avascan.info
Facebook / Instagram
graph.facebook.com
graph.instagram.com
i.instagram.com
Apple device updates 1 / Apple Music 2
xp.apple.com
Apple iMessage GIFs 1 / Spotlight Search 2
smoot.apple.com
Zoom 1 2
logfiles.zoom.us
us04logfiles.zoom.us
us04zpns.zoom.us
Epic Games Launcher 1
eulatracking-public-service-prod06.ol.epicgames.com
NVIDIA Gefore Experience 1
gfe.nvidia.com
nvgs.nvidia.cn
imgur 1
js.media-lab.ai
Spectrum login 1
pov.spectrum.net
CBS News livestream 1
production-cmp.isgprivacy.cbsi.com
FiveThirtyEight videos / National Geographic website
dcf.espn.com
Men's Health videos 1
glimmer.hearstapps.com
Settings ⚙️
Block Page
Enable Block Page → ☢️ Enabling may cause breakage if the NextDNS Root CA is not on your devices
Anonymized EDNS Client Subnet 1
Enable Anonymized EDNS Client Subnet
Cache Boost 1
Enable Cache Boost
CNAME Flattening 1 2 3
Enable CNAME Flattening
Web3 1 2
Enable Web3
(optional)
FAQ ❓
How do I signup for NextDNS?
Click here!
Do I still need adblocker with NextDNS?
Credit 📚
Forked from the crssi config. Where there is similiarity to other authors, credit goes to them.