This guide shows you how to achieve 100% satisfaction and protection when setting up eBlocker. Configuring eBlocker for a network that has many clients may take a while, but it’s not very complicated. Please follow each step carefully. In case you get stuck, please check the documentation and the discussions in the forum. If you’re still stuck and cannot find the answers you need, ask your own question in the forum and get individual help for your specific case. Please remember to provide us with the information we need to be able to help you!
About this help page and instructions #
This Instant Help page (and all the linked documents you’ll find below) is a quick-start guide consisting of pages from the Knowledge Base, the FAQs and various help documents of the former commercial eBlocker GmbH, that has since discontinued it’s business operations. Background information pertaining to eBlocker GmbH can be found here (in DE).
These instructions have been written with the eBlocker beginner in mind, linking to all the relevant documents in the knowledge base and posts in the Community Forum to help you get started as quickly as possible.
eBlocker User Manuals (outdated) #
The original user manuals of the commercial eBlocker GmbH are no longer maintained but might be a good source of reference in case you need more background after following or in addition to these Setup Instructions.
English User Manual (PDF) from eBlocker GmbH (maintained until eBlockerOS 2.4)
German User Manual (PDF) from eBlocker GmbH (maintained until eBlockerOS 2.4)
We highly recommend following the instructions on this page first as these are up-to-date and will be maintained and updated in the future.
Preparation (required) #
- Check the compatibility list for incompatible devices and software. 99% of all routers are compatible or just need some individual configuration to work properly (especially the Fritzbox 7490).
- Build your eBlocker. See here for step by step instructions, the recommended hardware, additional software required as well as the eBlockerOS image file you’ll need to download to get you started.
- With eBlockerOS 3 it’s not necessary to disable IPv6 anymore but for improved anonymity it’s highly recommended to disable IPv6.
- In case you are setting up eBlockerOS 2.x you need to fully disable network support for IPv6 (on the router = best, or individually for each client).
Initial Setup (required) #
- Connect your eBlocker to your network and gain access to the Settings & Dashboard pages of eBlocker.
- For the initial setup we recommend using our iOS / macOS app.
- Any browser will do the same as long as you can access your eBlocker 😉
- Run the eBlocker Function Test in the Dashboard and make sure all checkmarks show green, before you continue.
- Learn about the individual device settings in the Dashboard
- Advanced: Check out the advanced devices settings via the administrator Settings
- Make sure you learn about the Pause button (in Controlbar or Dashboard) . Pausing your eBlocker is useful in case a websites or app does not work properly when eBlocker is enabled.
- For iOS and Android devices we recommend disabling MAC address changes when you are using your local LAN.
- Apple macOS/iOS users should not use Apple Private Relay as this disables eBlocker’s advantages. See here https://eblocker.org/community/announcements/beware-of-apple-private-relay-please-disable/#
- Optional: If you are using a VPN provider, add the VPN nodes to eBlocker. This will route all device traffic thru the chosen VPN to hide your IP address – without the need for individual VPN client software. SmartTV/AppleTV/Firestick etc. + eBlocker VPN works fine. eBlocker can maintain multiple VPN connections to different providers / VPN nodes in parallel. All the device traffic will be routed thru the selected VPN and you can set eBlocker to always keep the VPN connection alive.
- Alternatively, instead of a VPN you can use the free Anonymization via the Tor network. This will route all your device traffic thru the anonymization network for hiding your real IP address. Even when using Tor via eBlocker you cannot purposely access websites on the „dark net“.
- Do not change the eBlocker configuration any further. Once you’ve reached this stage your eBlocker is already set up and protecting you.
Background On the Initial Setup #
After completing these initial steps your eBlocker will automatically block “the bad guys” by recognizing the bad domains. Blocking is accomplished by analyzing Domain Name System information (DNS), which eBlocker controls via its DNS Firewall. Updated DNS lists (of “the bad guys”) are supplied by eBlocker on a regular basis (usually daily and overnight). Keeping you secure and up-to-date.
Additionally, when accessing sensitive information, we recommend using Tor or a VPN service. For more details see IP-Anonymization.
IMPORTANT: If you value your privacy, try to reduce your GAFAM services footprint (GAFAM = Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft). Never log-in to any GAFAM website or app. Especially avoid the Chrome browser, as Googles browser will track you in various other aspects.
You now have approximately 90% tracking protection and 99% of all websites and apps will work as expected.
If you are not a computer geek, we recommend stopping the eBlocker configuration at this point.
Important Note #
Please stop your eBlocker setup here, especially if you have limited computer or network knowledge and do not apply any further configuration changes. The Advanced Setup is recommended for technically advanced users only. eBlocker runs fine without completing the Advanced Setup
If you have children, we do recommend setting up eBlocker’s Parental Controls to protect your children when they use their electronic devices. Parental Controls work without the Advanced Setup discussed below.
Advanced Setup (optional) #
The Advanced Setup gives you more control beyond blocking entire domains. It takes tracker protection to the next level and analyses bad URLs for certain patterns, allowing them to be recognized and then blocked. Pattern analysis permits a more granular approach to blocking and means only specific pages are blocked instead of entire domains. This brings the advantage of gaining access to “gooddomain.com” whereas only the URL “gooddomain.com/badtracker.php” is blocked. Additional blocking rules in easylist format can be uploaded via URLs or defined as needed, allowing further enhancement.
eBlocker is updated regularly with curated pattern blocking lists from our various partners. Some of the lists eBlocker provides are commercially licensed and available only for a fee. In our experience, we see no value, or need, in adding extra blocking lists. If you would like to add additional lists, we do not recommend using Domain lists (as they often result in over-blocking) but rather use pattern blocker lists in easylist format.
The advanced setup discussed below can be difficult to implement and might affect access to or break apps and websites. Of course any problems can be fixed, with patience – by just reading the docs. Take your time!
Enable pattern blocker (advanced blocking protection) #
- Enable HTTPS via Settings (may cause issues with apps/websites). This step is mandatory for advanced protection.
- HTTPS can also be enabled per device via Settings/Devices or the device Dashboard HTTPS Card
- Remark: Devices without HTTPS enabled are still protected by DNS Firewall (domain filter – see above)
- On PC/Mac properly install the eBlocker HTTPS certificate properly in the macOS keychain or the windows certificate storage and for all browsers (like Firefox, Seamonkey, etc) that do not use the OS stored certificate.
Please read the following linked documentation carefully as double-clicking the certificate will fail to install the certificate correctly! - On IOS the certificate installation is a little more complex – please follow the instructions carefully.
- For Android fennec there is a solution for installing the certificate. You might also want to check the regular Android certificate install.
- Enable eBlocker HTTPS support for your devices one-by-one (via settings>devices or the Dashboard Card) and check if all installed apps are still working
- In case an app is no longer working, check if there is a pre-defined Trusted App definition in eBlocker for your app
- In case there is no predefined Trusted App definition, create one individually for your app
- Check out the Controlbar via clicking the eBlocker icon on any website
- Remark: it‘s OK that the eBlocker icon is not always visible – eBlocker is still working/blocking!
- Hint: To move the icon to other side, open the Controlbar and click the icon on the other side.
- In case eBlocker’s icon is not visible, just use the Dashboard instead to control eBlocker for your device.
Advanced privacy protection #
- Choose Device Cloaking from the Control Bar and select which device you want to be cloaked as, according to your preferences. (HTTPS must be enabled for this functionality.)
- Enable eBlocker Mobile to protect devices outside your home network – if you are traveling for example.
- Enable additional pre-defined Blockers like the DuckDuckGo blocker list or add individual lists to your liking.
Having issues? #
- Many network related issues can be fixed by switching to Individual Network Mode
- There is a comprehensive section of common issues and fixes in the documentation
- There are also Help Videos for some of the topics (German only)
Final word #
Please note that these instructions and the knowledge base documentation are a work in progress and have not been completely revised yet.
If you want to contribute and help improving the documentation, please get in touch: voluntary@eblocker.org