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Custom Blocklists

QuietNet allows you to customize which types of content are blocked. This guide explains how to configure your blocklists to match your preferences.

Managing Blocklists

Accessing Blocklist Settings

  1. Log in to your QuietNet dashboard
  2. Navigate to the Blocklists section
  3. You'll see a list of available blocklists with toggles

Standard Blocklists

QuietNet comes with several pre-configured blocklists:

Blocklist Description Recommended
Ads Blocks advertising networks and ad servers ✓
Trackers Blocks analytics, tracking, and telemetry domains ✓
Malware Blocks domains known to distribute malware or host phishing sites ✓
Adult Content Blocks adult websites and content Optional
Social Media Blocks social media platforms and their tracking domains Optional
Gambling Blocks online gambling and betting sites Optional
Crypto Blocks cryptocurrency mining and related services Optional

Enabling/Disabling Blocklists

To toggle a blocklist:

  1. Find the blocklist you want to enable or disable
  2. Click the toggle switch next to it
  3. The switch will turn blue when enabled, gray when disabled
  4. Remember to click the Save Changes button at the top of the page when you're done

Custom Domain Lists (Premium Feature)

Premium users can create custom domain lists to block or allow specific websites.

Adding Custom Blocked Domains

To block specific domains:

  1. In the Blocklists section, scroll to Custom Domains
  2. In the Block These Domains text box, enter one domain per line
  3. For example: 
    annoyingads.example.com
intrusive-tracker.net
unwanted-site.org
  4. Click Save Changes

Adding Custom Allowed Domains (Whitelist)

To always allow specific domains, even if they appear in a blocklist:

  1. In the Blocklists section, find Always Allow These Domains
  2. Enter one domain per line
  3. For example: 
    mybank.com
work-portal.net
needed-analytics.org
  4. Click Save Changes

Wildcard Support

You can use wildcards in your custom domain lists:

  • *.example.com - Blocks all subdomains of example.com
  • ads.* - Blocks all domains that start with "ads."

Domain Blocking Rules

QuietNet follows these rules when deciding whether to block a domain:

  1. If a domain is in your Always Allow list, it will never be blocked
  2. If a domain is in your Block These Domains list, it will always be blocked
  3. If a domain matches an enabled blocklist category, it will be blocked
  4. All other domains are allowed

Testing Your Blocklists

After saving your blocklist changes:

  1. The changes take effect immediately
  2. Visit websites that should be blocked to verify they're being filtered
  3. Check your dashboard statistics to see if blocks are being counted
  4. Use our verification tools to test different categories

Blocklist Updates

Our blocklists are regularly updated to stay effective against new threats:

  • Ads and tracker lists are updated weekly
  • Malware lists are updated daily
  • All other lists are updated bi-weekly

Troubleshooting

Website Not Being Blocked

If a website you expect to be blocked is still accessible:

  1. Check if the domain is in your Always Allow list
  2. Add the domain to your custom block list
  3. Verify that the appropriate blocklist category is enabled
  4. Try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser

Legitimate Website Being Blocked

If a legitimate website is being blocked:

  1. Check which blocklist is causing the block using your dashboard statistics
  2. Add the domain to your Always Allow list
  3. If it's a common issue, you may want to disable the blocklist category temporarily

Changes Not Taking Effect

If your blocklist changes don't seem to be working:

  1. Ensure you clicked the Save Changes button
  2. Check for any error messages on the page
  3. Try refreshing your browser and checking again
  4. Clear your DNS cache:
  5. Windows: Run ipconfig /flushdns in Command Prompt
  6. macOS: Run sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder in Terminal
  7. Linux: Varies by distribution

Best Practices

  • Start conservatively: Begin with just ads and trackers, then add more categories as needed
  • Whitelist important sites: Add websites you use regularly to your Always Allow list
  • Monitor performance: Check your dashboard regularly to see what's being blocked
  • Update gradually: Make small changes and test before enabling multiple new blocklists

For more detailed instruction on specific blocking scenarios, check our Troubleshooting Guide.