🛡️ About TorGuard Ad-Block DNS
TorGuard's Ad-Block DNS is a powerful privacy feature that blocks ads, malware, tracking, and phishing sites at the DNS level. Updated daily with the latest threats, it provides comprehensive protection without requiring additional software.
Benefits of Ad-Block DNS
✨ Why Use Ad-Block DNS?
Block Ads
Eliminate ads across all apps and browsers
Malware Protection
Block known malicious domains
Anti-Tracking
Prevent trackers from following you
Phishing Defense
Block fake websites automatically
Faster Browsing
Less data loaded = faster speeds
Save Battery
Fewer ads = less battery drain
Blocklist Statistics
What Gets Blocked?
🚫 Comprehensive Blocking Categories
Advertising
- Banner ads
- Video ads
- Pop-ups
- Sponsored content
Tracking & Analytics
- Google Analytics
- Facebook tracking
- Cross-site trackers
- Behavioral analytics
Malware Domains
- Command & control servers
- Malware distribution
- Ransomware domains
- Exploit kits
Phishing Sites
- Fake banking sites
- Credential harvesting
- Social engineering
- Scam websites
DNS Options Comparison
🛡️ Ad-Block DNS
- ✅ Blocks ads & malware
- ✅ Daily updated lists
- ✅ Privacy focused
- ✅ No logging
- ✅ Faster browsing
- ❌ May block some sites
Best for: Maximum protection
🌐 Standard DNS
- ✅ No blocking
- ✅ All sites accessible
- ✅ Privacy focused
- ✅ No logging
- ❌ No ad blocking
- ❌ No malware protection
Best for: Compatibility
📊 Public DNS
- ✅ Widely available
- ✅ Fast resolution
- ❌ May log queries
- ❌ No ad blocking
- ❌ Privacy concerns
- ❌ No threat protection
Best for: Basic use
Step-by-Step Setup
Open Settings
On the TorGuard Android app main screen, tap the settings cog icon in the top right corner:
Navigate to DNS Settings
Scroll all the way down and tap "Static DNS - Add custom Static DNS":
Select DNS Configuration
Tap "DNS when VPN is connected" to configure DNS settings:
Enable Ad-Block DNS
Select "Ad Blocking DNS" from the list of options:
✅ Ad-Block DNS Activated!
The app will automatically save this setting.
Return to Main Screen
The app should automatically return to the previous screen. Tap the back arrow (top left) twice to return to the main connection screen:
Important: Reconnect to VPN for the Ad-Block DNS to take effect.
Performance Impact
⚡ Speed & Performance
Using Ad-Block DNS can actually improve your browsing speed:
- Faster Page Loads: Blocked ads don't need to download
- Reduced Data Usage: Save mobile data by blocking ads
- Lower Latency: TorGuard DNS servers are optimized
- Battery Savings: Less content to process
Note: Initial DNS queries may be slightly slower as the cache builds.
Clearing DNS Cache
🔄 How to Clear DNS Cache on Android
If ads still appear after enabling Ad-Block DNS:
Method 1: Quick Clear
- Disconnect from VPN
- Turn on Airplane Mode for 10 seconds
- Turn off Airplane Mode
- Reconnect to VPN
Method 2: App Clear
- Go to Android Settings → Apps
- Find your browser app
- Tap "Storage"
- Clear Cache (not data)
Method 3: Chrome DNS Clear
- Open Chrome
- Type:
chrome://net-internals/#dns - Tap "Clear host cache"
Troubleshooting
Ads Still Showing
- Clear DNS cache (see above)
- Ensure VPN is connected
- Check Ad-Block DNS is selected
- Some apps use hardcoded DNS
- Try force-stopping the app
Website Won't Load
- Site may be incorrectly blocked
- Try Standard DNS temporarily
- Check if site is legitimate
- Report false positives to support
App Not Working
- Some apps require ad servers
- Try whitelisting the app
- Switch to Standard DNS for that app
- Use split tunneling if available
Slow DNS Resolution
- Initial queries may be slower
- Cache will improve speed
- Try different VPN server
- Check internet connection
Whitelist Requests
📝 Need Something Unblocked?
If a legitimate site is being blocked:
- Note the exact domain being blocked
- Temporarily switch to Standard DNS
- Contact support with the domain
- We review and update lists daily
Common false positives: Some CDNs, payment processors, or app backends may occasionally be blocked.
Privacy & Security
🔐 Your Privacy Protected
- No DNS Logs: We don't log your DNS queries
- Encrypted Queries: DNS over VPN tunnel
- No Third Parties: All DNS handled by TorGuard
- DNSSEC Support: Validates DNS responses
- No Selling Data: Your browsing stays private
Alternative DNS Options
🔧 Other DNS Choices in TorGuard
- Standard TorGuard DNS: No filtering, pure privacy
- Cloudflare: Fast public DNS (1.1.1.1)
- Google DNS: Reliable but less private (8.8.8.8)
- Quad9: Malware blocking (9.9.9.9)
- Custom DNS: Use your own DNS servers
Frequently Asked Questions
It works with most apps, but some apps use hardcoded DNS servers or require ad servers to function. Games with reward ads may not work properly.
YouTube serves ads from the same servers as videos, making DNS blocking less effective. For YouTube, consider using a browser with ad-blocking extensions.
No, the Ad-Block DNS is only available when connected to TorGuard VPN. This ensures your DNS queries remain private and encrypted.
Actually, it often speeds up browsing by blocking ads before they download. Initial DNS lookups might be slightly slower, but cached results are very fast.
Tips for Best Results
💡 Pro Tips
- Clear cache after enabling: Ensures all apps use new DNS
- Test with multiple apps: Some apps behave differently
- Monitor battery life: You may see improvements
- Report issues: Help us improve the blocklists
- Combine with browser blocking: For maximum protection
Need Help?
If you're experiencing issues with Ad-Block DNS:
Include specific sites or apps that aren't working correctly