Blocky: The Open-Source DNS Proxy to Block Ads and Malware on Your Network

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Introduction

Blocky is a lightweight, open-source DNS proxy designed to block advertisements, malware, and unwanted websites at the network level. By intercepting DNS queries, it ensures a cleaner and safer browsing experience for all devices on a local network. Ideal for sysadmins and IT professionals, Blocky offers an efficient alternative to client-side ad blockers.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand how Blocky works as a DNS-based content filter.
  • Learn how to deploy Blocky on a Linux server.
  • Configure custom blocklists for enhanced security.

1. Installing Blocky on Linux

Blocky can be installed via Docker or as a standalone binary. Below is the Docker deployment method:

Command:

docker run -d --name blocky -v ./blocky.yml:/app/config.yml -p 53:53/udp -p 53:53/tcp spx01/blocky

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Ensure Docker is installed (sudo apt install docker.io on Debian/Ubuntu).

2. Create a `blocky.yml` configuration file (example below).

  1. Run the Docker command above to start Blocky.
  2. Configure your router or devices to use the server’s IP as the DNS server.

2. Configuring Blocky for Ad and Malware Blocking

Blocky supports custom blocklists from sources like StevenBlack/hosts or AdGuard.

Example `blocky.yml` Snippet:

blocking: 
blackLists: 
ads: 
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/hosts 
malware: 
- https://mirror1.malwaredomains.com/files/justdomains

How It Works:

  • Blocky downloads and caches blocklists, filtering DNS queries in real time.
  • Custom lists can be added under `blackLists` for tailored blocking.

3. Enabling Logging and Monitoring

Track blocked requests for troubleshooting.

Configuration:

log: 
level: info 
timestamp: true

View Logs:

docker logs blocky

4. Whitelisting Trusted Domains

Prevent false positives by allowing specific domains.

Example Config:

blocking: 
whiteLists: 
trusted: 
- ".microsoft.com" 
- ".ubuntu.com"

5. Securing Blocky with DoT/DoH (DNS-over-TLS/HTTPS)

Encrypt DNS queries for privacy.

Configuration:

upstream: 
- https://cloudflare-dns.com/dns-query

6. Integrating Blocky with Pi-hole (Optional)

For advanced users, Blocky can work alongside Pi-hole.

Command:

docker network create blocky-net 
docker run -d --network blocky-net --name pihole pihole/pihole

7. Automating Updates with Cron

Keep blocklists fresh.

Cron Job Example:

0 3    docker restart blocky

What Undercode Say:

  • Key Takeaway 1: Blocky is a powerful, lightweight alternative to client-side ad blockers, ideal for network-wide protection.
  • Key Takeaway 2: Custom blocklists and DoT/DoH support make it flexible for enterprise and home use.

Analysis:

Blocky’s open-source nature ensures transparency, while its Docker compatibility simplifies deployment. Unlike browser-based blockers, it protects all devices, including IoT. However, some sites may detect and bypass DNS-level blocking, requiring occasional whitelisting.

Prediction:

As privacy concerns grow, DNS-based filtering tools like Blocky will become essential for both home and corporate networks. Future updates may include AI-driven threat detection, reducing reliance on static blocklists.

For further reading, check the official Blocky documentation.

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