Let’s be honest : nothing ruins a quiet evening of browsing faster than a page stuffed with blinking ads, creepy trackers that follow you like a shadow, or that one sketchy link a friend swore was “totally safe”. I’ve been there – watching my router’s lights flicker like a Christmas tree in July and thinking, “Who on earth is talking to my network right now ?”
Before diving into the geeky stuff, I wanted to share a tiny resource that helped me a lot when I started cleaning up my network mess. I stumbled on https://laetitia-informatique.fr while looking for plain-language explanations, and honestly, it felt like finding a neighbour who actually knows what they’re doing.
Why bother blocking things at the network level ?
Because it’s the only way to protect every device at home – even the ones you forget exist. Your smart TV, that old iPad your kids use, your connected light bulbs (the ones that randomly blink at 2 a.m., or maybe that’s just mine)… they all talk to the internet. A lot.
By filtering traffic directly on your router or a small local device, you stop ads and dodgy domains before they even reach your phone or computer. It feels a bit like putting a security guard at your front door instead of yelling at intruders already inside the house. Much more peaceful.
Solution #1 – Using DNS filtering (the easiest and fastest)
If you want something you can set up in 5 minutes, DNS filtering is the way to go. Seriously. It’s basically telling your network, “When someone here tries to visit a known bad domain, just ignore it.”
My picks for beginners :
- AdGuard DNS – free, clean, blocks ads and trackers with no software installation.
- NextDNS – super customisable ; I love how you can see exactly what was blocked (I once discovered my coffee machine checked in with its server every 30 minutes… why ?).
Setup is usually as simple as changing two lines (the DNS addresses) in your router’s settings. If you’ve never touched your router interface, don’t panic – it’s usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, and the DNS menu is somewhere near “Internet” or “WAN”.
The result ? Ads disappear on every device, and a huge chunk of tracking scripts gets silently dropped. You won’t get perfect protection, but for the effort involved, it’s a fantastic first step.
Solution #2 – Pi-hole (the famous “set it and forget it” option)
If you’ve ever heard someone talk passionately about their home network while making coffee, they probably mentioned Pi-hole. It runs on a tiny Raspberry Pi – or even an old laptop you have lying around – and it acts as your own private ad-blocker for the whole house.
When I installed mine, I expected it to be a whole afternoon job. In reality, it took maybe 20 minutes, and most of that time was me trying to find a spare Ethernet cable in a drawer full of random chargers. Once it’s running, Pi-hole gives you a dashboard showing all the requests your devices make. The first time I saw hundreds of blocked trackers per hour, I literally said out loud, “What the heck ?”.
Pros :
- Incredible blocking efficiency
- Totally under your control
- Works with every device, even game consoles and smart TVs
Cons :
- You need a small device that stays on 24/7
- Requires a bit of tinkering (but nothing scary)
Solution #3 – Router-level filtering (if your box supports it)
Some routers come with built-in filtering options. If you’ve got a recent Wi-Fi 6 router or a mesh system (like ASUS, TP-Link Deco, Synology…), dig into the settings – many include :
- parental control filters,
- malicious site blocking,
- basic ad-blocking,
- or custom DNS configurations.
Honestly, the quality varies a lot. Some brands just slap on a checkbox that barely does anything. Others, especially higher-end routers, do a surprisingly solid job.
Solution #4 – Browser extensions (still useful, but limited)
Tools like uBlock Origin or Ghostery remain excellent… but they only protect the device where they’re installed.
I still install uBlock on every computer I touch – out of habit, and because it catches layout-breaking scripts that DNS filters can’t. Think of it as wearing a seatbelt even when you’re driving slowly.
Which solution should you pick ?
If you’re reading this while juggling kids, dinner, and a router that looks like a spaceship, I’d say : start with DNS filtering. It’s quick, painless and genuinely helpful.
If you enjoy tinkering or you want full visibility on what happens inside your home network, go for Pi-hole. It’s strangely satisfying – especially when you see how many ads never reach your screens again.
And if your router already includes filtering features, try them ! You might be pleasantly surprised.
Final thoughts
Securing a home network doesn’t require becoming “the IT person of the family” (even though… you probably already are). With one or two simple tweaks, you can block ads, trackers and shady domains long before they knock on your digital door.
Give it a try. You’ll feel your whole network breathe a little easier – and honestly, so will you.