Pi-hole

In short: Pi-hole is a network tool that blocks ads and trackers at DNS level for all devices on the home network.

In more detail: The program usually runs on a Raspberry Pi and acts as a DNS server. If a device asks for an ad domain, Pi-hole answers with an empty address.

In Depth

How it works

The device queries DNS, Pi-hole compares the domain with blocklists and blocks matches. Everything else is passed on to a real DNS server.

Pros and cons

Advantage: also blocks in apps and smart TVs that have no ad blocker. Disadvantage: only blocks domains, not ads served from the same domain as the content, and can break sites. See tracking.

See also: DNS, Raspberry Pi, Tracking