DNS App that block a website only at specific times

Apps
1

I need an Android app that can block a website at certain times, at system level, not just on certain browsers.

For example, I’d like to block the website “youtube.com” only from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM, at the moment I can block the website completely, all day and forever, without having any range of action., using an app like personalDNSfilter.

I currently consider the following apps to be the best for me: personalDNSfilter, DN-SNet, Ad-Guard, Blokada, Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN

I haven’t been able to find a setting in these apps that allows me to block a site only at certain times, it could be that I haven’t looked at the options in these apps properly, or that the option isn’t available at all.

Could you help me? Are there any other apps you’d recommend?

2

It might be possible to launch some of the Apps you have listed at a specific time using Automation or similar. So if you have one app configured so, the other slightly different you may be able to switch behavior that way. Hacky but might work.

3

That wouldn’t be good, because the same app would have to block some web addresses all day, and others for specific periods.

I need an app or a way to completely blocks a website, including in-app browsers (which are everywhere these days, including most apps like Facebook, Instagram, etc.). I can easily achieve this with apps like “personalDNSfilter,” but I can’t set a time frame for the block; that’s what I’m missing.

4

The idea is to use two blocking apps configured differently and switch between them.

5

What would they be?

The only apps I’ve found that block a site system-wide, and not just superficially, are DNS apps like the ones listed above. However, they create a VPN connection to work, and two VPNs can’t coexist simultaneously, or can they?

Do you know of any apps or methods I’m not aware of that could achieve my goal?

6

I believe your issue is that your trying to do this at the wrong level. Am I correct in believing that your trying to do this ON the android device? This sort of access really wants to be restricted before it hits the device your trying to protect.

7

What do you mean? Could you explain better?

8

In order to explain I need to confirm…

Are you attempting to block things from the phone, on the phone?

Do you have access and control of the network you are trying to block things on?

Are you selfhosting already or do I need to explain from the bottom up?

9

I see that your having some issues in another post as well about NextDNS and you seem to be a bit confused as to what parts of the system actually do what job. I’m happy to help but I think you need to get prepared for this to be a bigger mission than you planned.

1 Like
10

wtf is this gaslighting? OP is asking for a firewall that can be set up based on a time of day what’s not clear about it? If any of those dns apps had something like profiles and an activity to switch between them you could set it up with that automation app maybe or termux.

11

Are you gonna be prepared to talk him through that? You right that’s an answer you can give me… a person who uses termux… if he if trying to do what I think he’s trying to do overall he needs to be selfhosting his own dns that he can actually control from a dashboard.

Not sure why we needed to be unkind about my opinion on an opinion forum. Id say people like y-u are the reason no one is here… is there a block button somewhere? Ill find it hold on

12

>wants to block domain locally
>self host a freakin dns server
are you for real? if you can’t answer the question just don’t. I can’t answer OP cause I’m not familiar with any of the dns apps, I’m just calling you out on your gaslighting the OP. The question is formulated rather clearly, and it’s some basic stuff, if foss android is so freaking handicapped that you can’t even do this basic stuff, it’s not the OPs fault or lack of understanding.

13

OP if you have intrest in the solutions I am able to provide your welcome to answer my questions. If not your welcome to take advice from whoever you’d like. We are all figuring this out together and I’m happy to help where I can.

14

From what I understand, I’m using AdGuard DNS and NextDNS, both of which offer basic services for free.

I tried subscribing to ControlD and CleanBrowsing, but they’re paid services only.

For now, I’ve looked into AdGuard’s service a bit; I’ll try to do the same with NextDNS.

Can you recommend other DNS services that can achieve my goal?
What’s this discussion about Termux? What could be done with it?

15

You can do just about anything you want with Termux. Properly set up its basicly a full command line for your device that can run programs or do abd things but the setup is quite a bit to get useabilty so unless you already have a working understanding of that I really don’t suggest this route.

Sure I can give you commands to makebyour phone do the thing probably. But now its running in a system you don’t understand or know how to stop.

Ternux is not a toy on a Mission Critical device (and yes your phone is critical to your mission… blow a tire and see how “critical” it is)

If you want to learn termux I suggest you dig around in the closet and drag out a dead device you can play with. That way when you break something the risk is much lower.

I’m gonna give you some defintions. They may help.

DNS (Cloudflare, Google, root nameservers, ect)

The Domain Name System (DNS) is the phonebook of the Internet. Humans access information online through domain names, like nytimes.com or espn.com. Web browsers interact through ip addresses. DNS translates domain names to IP adresses so browsers can load Internet resources.

VPN (Tailscale or Pengolin)

A virtual private network (VPN) is an overlay network that uses network virtualization to extend a private network across a public network, such as the Internet, via the use of encryption and tunneling protocol. In a VPN, a tunneling protocol is used to transfer network messages from one network host to another.

Smart DNS (NordVPN, SurfShark, ExpressVPN)

Smart DNS is defined as a special type of service that is used to unblock the geo-restricted services and content and accordingly improve the speed of the internet. Smart DNS mainly works by changing the Domain Name System(DNS) settings on the router or user device to redirect DNS requests of users through a server that is placed or located at a different region. Smart DNS helps to stay connected to the networks that have restrictions for accessing such as corporate networks.

So a Smart DNS uses a VPN to connect you to a nameserver so you can look things up from elsewhere

Using a DNS Lookup (AdGuard, PiHole) to Block websites puts a wall between your device and the nameserver so your device can’t look things up.

This is a major issue in the tech world. The naming conventions suck and rarely mean much so things get real confusing real quick. I have litterally had to correct this several times because even I’m really guilty of being lazy with my language now that I half ass understand because saying it all properly is fucking hard.

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