# My Blokada configuration: privacy-focused **URL:** \ **Category:** Other Discussions\ **Tags:** blokada-plus, ad-blocking, dns, android, privacy\ **Created:** [June 23, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185 "2020-06-23T22:01:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![c\_C](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/c_c/32/60_2.png) [@c\_C](https://community.blokada.org/u/c_C)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/1 "2020-06-23T22:01:07Z")
_This recommendation was written for Blokada v4. Blokada v5 still lacks some features that I use in this post. I’ll try to update the post over the upcoming weeks. Till then ask if anything’s unclear:)_ Hey there:) I am C. I thought I write up my configuration of Blokada on Android. ### Why do I use Blokada and not another software? - Blokada is [Open-Source](https://github.com/blokadaorg) - Blokada has thousands of features (I currently count 5 different possibilities to whitelist a domain) - Blokada is free - Blokada has a cool, approachable community. ### What do I want to achieve when using Blokada? increasing my privacy by: - blocking tracking through Websites - blocking tracking through Social Networks - blocking domains that are not necessary for my phone to work. ### The Start-up Let‘s start at the beginning. I prefer to download the App directly from [blokada.org](http://blokada.org/) as that version gets the fastest updates. For a tutorial on how to install Blokada check [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1vuQCfhbmg) video guide. It is important that you grant the app permission to establish a VPN. Read up on how Blokada works [here](https://support.blokada.org/hc/en-us/articles/360010352200-Intro-to-adblocking-with-Blokada) (short) and [here](https://support.blokada.org/hc/en-us/articles/360010501959-How-does-Blokada-work-) (long). The big toggle switches all Blokada features on and off. From now on Blokada blocks ads and tracking on your phone. ### My Ad blocking settings Now tap the three lines at the bottom. You are in the settings menu. First of all tap on Ad blocking. Choose **Host lists**. There I prefer to enable StevenBlack Unified, the CoinBlocker list, the Social Hosts file and a [list with (mostly) Google domains](https://gitlab.com/so_ICon_ic_ifh/google-blocklist-by-miss-support/raw/master/Miss_Supports_blocklist.txt) I compiled for myself (from domains actually accessed by my phone). **StevenBlack Unified** is meant to block ads and general tracking. **Coinblocker** is being used to block cryptomining from websites / installed apps. The **Social Hosts file** is meant to block apps and websites from sharing any information with for example Facebook. I don‘t use Facebook, still `graph.facebook.com` has been accessed on a daily basis by one of my apps. As I have to use WhatsApp, I had to whitelist a few domains to make everything work again. But that is done within a few days. I am blocking most **Google domains** that gets requested by my phone. This breaks stuff!!! Check the readme of the repo for more information. **Advanced users** : For more specific Host lists check [filterlists.com](https://filterlists.com/). Leave the Host list menu. Tap on **Ad blocking settings**. There select Request logger to ‘log all requests’. Therefore Blokada needs the permission to write to storage. Grant it. It allows you to check all accessed and blocked domains via a file (requests.csv) written in Downloads/Blokada/. Change List download frequency to ‘once a month’. The Host lists usually don’t get updates this often so once per month is totally sufficient. ### My DNS settings Now go back to the first submenu. Select DNS. I prefer **Digitalcourage** for non-DoT/DoH servers. Digitalcourage is privacy-focused, German, uncensored, only logging wrong DNS requests (which shouldn’t happen if you use your phone normally), it furthermore doesn’t block specific content ([Source](https://digitalcourage.de/support/zensurfreier-dns-server)). This is an advantage in my eyes, as you are fully in control of what you are blocking and what not via Host lists. Currently only Blokada for iOS supports DoH. For the upcoming implementation on Android I recommend ‘[Digitale Gesellschaft](https://www.digitale-gesellschaft.ch/dns/)’ it’s located in Switzerland and has the same advantages as Digitalcourage (or manually add Digitalcourage). Disable DNS Fallback, which is at the bottom of your DNS menu. It overrides your custom DNS and sets Cloudflare if a local DNS gets used. ### My Blokada Plus We go back to the main settings menu. The next submenu is called Blokada Plus. This is the paid VPN service hosted by Blokada. I subscribed to it. All gateways work very good for me. A subscription helps to develop new features, so give it a thought;) I primarily use the Stockholm gateway. Read more about Blokada Plus [here](https://community.blokada.org/t/what-is-blokada-plus/37). ### My App settings App settings is the next relevant menu. Here I enabled ‘Start on boot’ to be protected directly after starting my phone. I send reports, as they only contain my device type and manufacturer, API level and Blokada’s version. I think the background animation is cute, so I keep it enabled. For most devices it is relevant to enable ‘Keep alive’ as well (Check [this](https://community.blokada.org/t/brand-specific-information/93) article for information relevant for your brand). Now swipe down from the top to bottom. You are on the Home screen again. ### Additional annotations Additionally to Blokada I enable uBlock Origin as Add-on in my browser for cosmetic filtering. Remember to follow [these](https://community.blokada.org/t/blokada-doesnt-block-ads-in-chrome/62) steps if you are using Chrome. For blocking [ads on YouTube](https://community.blokada.org/t/ads-in-youtube-arent-blocked/61) I prefer to use NewPipe. It’s simple and provides all settings necessary for me. [u/amitnahar](https://www.reddit.com/user/amitnahar/) explained in [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/blokada/comments/hrrqmw/thank_you_blokada/) post that he uses [Exodus privacy](https://f-droid.org/packages/org.eu.exodus_privacy.exodusprivacy) to check which trackers are included in the apps he installs. Then he directly adds the relevant domains in Blokada’s Blocked Hosts menu. I think this is a very intelligent move to increase the privacy. ---
**Author:** ![Karol](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/karol/32/13_2.png) [@Karol](https://community.blokada.org/u/Karol)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 6:20am UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/2 "2020-06-24T06:20:31Z")
This is a great writeup C, thanks! Recommended to all new users. ---
**Author:** ![c\_C](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/c_c/32/60_2.png) [@c\_C](https://community.blokada.org/u/c_C)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 7:17am UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/3 "2020-06-24T07:17:58Z")
Thank you:D! Well I wouldn’t recommend the Google list to new users, but the rest: definitely. If anyone has questions about this configuration I am happy to answer:) ---
**Author:** ![ashubuntu](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/ashubuntu/32/355_2.png) [@ashubuntu](https://community.blokada.org/u/ashubuntu)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2020, 2:16pm UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/4 "2020-06-25T14:16:24Z")
Well written @c_C, this post will be really insightful for new comers. ---
**Author:** ![c\_C](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/c_c/32/60_2.png) [@c\_C](https://community.blokada.org/u/c_C)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/5 "2020-06-25T14:33:42Z")
Thanks a lot @ashubuntu:) You said you block pornographic content, right? If you want: do an article like mine to explain how you configured Blokada to block pornographic content. You can focus on that… it doesn’t have to be long either… but I think this would be a good addition so that people searching to block adult content know of a possible setup. What do you think:)? ---
**Author:** ![ashubuntu](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/ashubuntu/32/355_2.png) [@ashubuntu](https://community.blokada.org/u/ashubuntu)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/6 "2020-06-26T02:18:15Z")
Good idea @c_C. I will write a post about it. I will also explain which DNS and host lists I am using to block adult content. Thank you for the suggestion 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![c\_C](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/c_c/32/60_2.png) [@c\_C](https://community.blokada.org/u/c_C)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2020, 7:56am UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/7 "2020-06-26T07:56:15Z")
Awesome! Looking forward to it:). ---
**Author:** ![fd\_svensson](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/fd_svensson/32/256_2.png) [@fd\_svensson](https://community.blokada.org/u/fd_svensson)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/8 "2020-06-27T21:51:09Z")
You prefer to download Blokada from [blokada.org](http://blokada.org) because you get faster updates ➡↘⬇↙ When I installed it, the main reason was that if you downloaded it from Play you couldn’t block Google. Has that changed or didn’t you remember that? I has used Blokada since you where on [xda.com](http://xda.com) ---
**Author:** ![cami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cami](https://community.blokada.org/u/cami)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/9 "2020-06-27T21:58:35Z")
Hi @fd_svensson There is also the possibility to download it from the f-droid store. As the f-droid maintainers check the applications they need a little bit more time to give the latest update. 😃 The f-droid-Release also has all features. Visit [this](https://community.blokada.org/t/whats-the-difference-between-blokada-and-blokada-slim/38) link to see a description about the difference between Blokada and Blokada Slim. ---
**Author:** ![fd\_svensson](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/fd_svensson/32/256_2.png) [@fd\_svensson](https://community.blokada.org/u/fd_svensson)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/10 "2020-06-27T22:05:52Z")
I already have F- droid on my phone 🙂 but I shall see what you talking about. Edit / Aha, you made another one. Well that I didn’t know 🙊🙈 ---
**Author:** ![cami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cami](https://community.blokada.org/u/cami)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/11 "2020-06-27T22:16:39Z")
I’m sorry. It was the same one but I edited it as I was not sure that you’ll get a mention. And today I learned that you can’t see that I edited a comment. ---
**Author:** ![ashubuntu](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/ashubuntu/32/355_2.png) [@ashubuntu](https://community.blokada.org/u/ashubuntu)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2020, 3:22am UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/12 "2020-06-28T03:22:22Z")
You can read the article on how to block adult and pornographic content using Blokada [here](https://community.blokada.org/t/blokada-configuration-to-block-adult-and-pornographic-content/316). ---
**Author:** ![ashubuntu](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/ashubuntu/32/355_2.png) [@ashubuntu](https://community.blokada.org/u/ashubuntu)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 6:49am UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/13 "2020-07-12T06:49:00Z")
> [@c\_C](#): > > Social Hosts file and a [list with (mostly) Google domains](https://gitlab.com/so_ICon_ic_ifh/google-blocklist-by-miss-support/raw/master/Miss_Supports_blocklist.txt) I compiled for myself (from domains actually accessed by my phone). Hey @c_C how did you compiled this host list? I understand the format (.txt), will the same format work in Blokada or there will be some addition in beginning of the list? ---
**Author:** ![c\_C](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/c_c/32/60_2.png) [@c\_C](https://community.blokada.org/u/c_C)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 12:07pm UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/14 "2020-07-12T12:07:15Z")
Hey:) I am very sorry, I don’t quite understand your question? I checked my phone and added all relevant domains in that list, that’s how I compiled that list. You can just add the link to Ad blocking / Host lists as a new list. BUT you will have to allow a lot of domains! ---
**Author:** ![ashubuntu](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/ashubuntu/32/355_2.png) [@ashubuntu](https://community.blokada.org/u/ashubuntu)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 1:58pm UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/15 "2020-07-12T13:58:38Z")
My question was regarding the syntax of host lists. I think now I understand it. Correct me if I am wrong host list contains of a blank address such as 127.0.0.1 or 0.0.0.0 and the domain adress like [smetrics.bestbuy.com](http://smetrics.bestbuy.com). New domain in new line. Host list example, 127.0.0.1 [smetrics.bestbuy.com](http://smetrics.bestbuy.com) 127.0.0.1 [someotherwebsite.com](http://someotherwebsite.com) That’s it. And on android we can save file as txt and then add to Blokada. ---
**Author:** ![PrintableCharacter](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/printablecharacter/32/88_2.png) [@PrintableCharacter](https://community.blokada.org/u/PrintableCharacter)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/16 "2020-07-12T16:23:03Z")
Indeed 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![A\_Nonimo](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/a_nonimo/32/5271_2.png) [@A\_Nonimo](https://community.blokada.org/u/A_Nonimo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 12:22am UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/19 "2020-11-24T00:22:21Z")
Excuse me, I’ve just installed Blokada and I’d like to customise my blocklists, how do I do that? I tried following your instructions, but I got lost at “First of all tap on Ad blocking”. Where do I find that option? It’s not on the settings menu. [Screenshot\_20201123-212144\_Blokada 5|225x500](https://community.blokada.org/uploads/short-url/vOtA4pVnKPrV3gzsoBF3dcajE3x.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![cami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cami](https://community.blokada.org/u/cami)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/20 "2020-11-24T01:04:54Z")
Hi @A_Nonimo Thanks that you want to follow this guide. As far as I know this guide was created for Blokada v4. In your screenshot I see that you are using Blokada v5. So at the bottom (where also the settings are) you’ll have to press the third icon (looks like a package). After that you’ll see a menu and one of these points is “Blocklists”. After clicking on blocklists you’ll see some blocklists. In the section highlight there are some blocklists and you can also change to the “tab” all. There you’ll have quite some blocklists. If you’d like to customize which blocklist is used it’s also possible to click on a blocklist and then you can choose which specific list you’d like (i.e.: Energized has different blocklists as Spark, Blu, Basic and so on) I hope you know what I mean. @c_C Might you should add a disclaimer that this article is only for v4. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Nonimo](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/community.blokada.org/a_nonimo/32/5271_2.png) [@A\_Nonimo](https://community.blokada.org/u/A_Nonimo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/21 "2020-11-24T01:09:26Z")
There it is, right where you (@cami) said it would be!!! Thank you very much!!! ---
**Author:** ![cami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cami](https://community.blokada.org/u/cami)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185/22 "2020-11-24T01:20:55Z")
You’re welcome. I’m happy I helped you. If you’ll have any further questions feel free to ask them in the support category. [Next page](https://community.blokada.org/t/my-blokada-configuration-privacy-focused/185.md?page=2)