Pi-Hole Mini-Review
Internet ad-blocker, web filter, with optional DHCP & DNS server capability
DISCOVERY
My goal was to filter internet traffic such as ads and unwanted tracking
telemetry. I wanted a home and small business equivalent to the Barracuda web filter which is too
expensive for home use. This led me to the Pi-Hole website. I did some reading and sounded like a
cool and EXTREMELY useful way to meet my criteria. The Pi-Hole website has the files you'll need to
get started on your own or have an IT person set it up for you. There are a several websites that
contain step by step instructions.
INSTALLATION
Pi-Hole was originally intended to be installed on a Raspberry Pi but
just about any hardware with a Linux operating system will work. You can use a Pi, an old computer, or
go with a NUC or another mini pc. Some users have also installed it in a virtual machine. The choice of
Linux distro is up to the person performing the installation. I initially picked Raspberry PI OS, but I
have also used Mint OS
and a Docker Container.
Each one was installed on different hardware. You will need to make a choice as to how you want to set
it up and download the appropriate installer. The installation process is a script that downloads the
rest and does everything you need to get started. The Pi-hole software not only filters advertising, but
it can be optionally configured to include DHCP and DNS.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Pi-hole is great software that simply runs quietly in the
background. If you want to set it up yourself - a basic Knowledge of Linux, DHCP & DNS is beneficial.
However, you can also have your IT provider set it up as well. Figuring out what to whitelist
can sometimes be challenging. (Google searches will help with this task.) I have Pi-hole running in my
home lab and it has significantly reduced unwanted internet traffic while increasing security and
privacy.
BLACKLISTING
I am using approximately 35 separate blacklists on my Pi-hole which
collectively block over 900k ad generation and telemetry sites. There are lists available for Smart
TV's, Crypto, Malware, Streaming services, phishing, adult content, ad servers and more. You get to
choose what you're blocking on your network. Simply include or exclude the lists or individual sites as
you deem necessary. These lists are updated periodically, so it's a good idea to run the list update
function pickup any additions.
DHCP FEATURE
The (optional) DHCP server within the Pi-Hole is somewhat basic but
performs as expected. It lacks the ability to specify additional options that are sometimes needed.
There is no ability to specify a proxy server, NTP server, WINS etc... This may be a limiting factor in
some use cases. I tried it, but ended up reverting back to DHCP on my router.
DOES PI-HOLE BLOCK ADS ON STREAMING SERVICES?
YES - if the ads are pop-ups. Services like YouTube often display a pop-up ad across
the bottom of the page. These ads will be gone.
NO - if the ads are streamed directly from the streaming service. (Commercials)
Pihole works by blocking the 3rd party ad providers that are on the blacklist. It does quite well. If
the ad comes from the streaming service itself, such as YouTube, they will NOT be blocked. You will find
that it may even block quite a few 3rd party ads within the games and other apps on your
cellphone!
USE CASE
Pi-Hole would be intended for a home or small business. (Perhaps, no more
than a dozen users.) Performance and capacity would be determined by what hardware you're using and the
speed of the network connection. Pi-hole contains roughly 60% of the features of a much more expensive
Barracuda web-filter but is MUCH more affordable. It lacks the daily updates and some of the reporting
features of the Barracuda. Larger businesses should go with a Barracuda to support higher bandwidth
and additional features.
IDEAS ON WHERE TO INSTALL
Pi-Hole There are quite a few ways that people choose to
implement the system. The route chosen depends on your network and what you have available as some users
can do this without even purchasing anything. These are a few possible choices:
#1 Use a Raspbery Pi single board computer.
#2 Use an alternate single board computer such as the Zimaboard.
#3 Simply repurpose an old desktop. (This may consume more power.)
#4 Setup a virtual machine on Hyper-V, VMWare, VirtualBox, & Proxmox
#5 Use a Synology NAS or other device with a Docker container.
ADVANTAGES
Unlike traditional security software such as Norton or McAffee, a Pi-Hole
will protect EVERY device on your network. This includes smart TV's, Roku's Firesticks, camera systems,
cellphones, tablets, smart watches and more. Your total internet traffic will drop by as much as 50%.
This really helps if you have heavy Internet usage. Best of all - NO SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED!
