How to Block Porn on a Home Router

Learn how to install a content filter to block adult content on your home internet and Wifi. Network filtering allows you to block content on any device (smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs) that uses your home internet connection. Online pornography is pervasive and accessible via various mediums, including search engines, devices, and gaming consoles. The most effective method of restricting access to this content is through the use of a content filtering service.

Step 1: Restrict Access via a Content Filter

Content filters are effective because they handle much of the heavy lifting. High-quality filters will continuously crawl the web and have mechanisms in place to stay up to date. CleanBrowsing, a well-known DNS-based content filter, uses the Domain Name System (DNS) to help identify what should and should not be allowed on a network. This guide assumes that you will use a filtering service, like the one provided by Tech Lockdown, that allows you to customize the filtering settings.

Configuring Content Filtering on Your Router

We recommend configuring your content filtering at the router, or the edge of your network. This ensures that the rules you configure get applied to all the devices connected to that router. To set this up, login to your router, look for Settings or DNS Settings and change the Nameserver to point to: 185.228.168.168.

Understanding IP Address Types

If you are setting up a DNS Filtering service on your home network to block unwanted content, your IP address type will determine how you connect to that service. There are currently two types of IP addresses:

  • IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numbers, written as four decimal numbers separated by periods (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
  • IPv6 addresses are written as eight groups of hexadecimal numbers separated by colons (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).

A dynamic IPv4 address can sometimes change, especially if you lose power and your internet connection resets. The best way to automatically handle IP changes is by using a Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service. Instead of using an IP address to represent your home network, like 123.45.67.89, we will configure a hostname like myhomenetwork.ddns.net.

Device Configuration Settings

In most cases, you can update DNS settings on any device by navigating to the device's settings section and locating the network options. Here is a summary of how to apply the filter to various platforms:

  • Windows: Control Panel -> Network -> Internet -> Network Properties and configure the DNS servers to point to 185.228.168.168.
  • Mac and Linux computers: Settings -> Network -> Wifi -> Advanced and change the DNS servers to point to: 185.228.168.168.
  • iPhone, Android and iPads: Go to Settings -> Wifi settings and configure the Nameserver to point to: 185.228.168.168.
  • ChromeBook: Settings -> Network -> Wifi and configure the Custom NameServers to point to the filter.

Step 2: Enable Safe Search Option

All content filters face similar limitations with closed platforms. Closed platforms, such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Yahoo!, have the ability to create their own rules on how and what can be filtered. Therefore, additional steps are necessary if you allow access to these platforms. The simplest method is to see if the platform offers a Safe Search option. Popular platforms like Google, YouTube, and Bing provide this feature. Typically, you configure Safe Search via their application, such as the Google Chrome browser.

Expert-Recommended Hardening Techniques

Protect your family or organization from inappropriate material with these additional techniques:

  1. Employ Hardening Controls: Use built-in parental controls on all devices.
  2. Disable Proxy / VPN access: Prevent users from bypassing your network filters.
  3. Be Selective About Social Media Platforms: Many platforms have their own internal rules for content.
  4. Proactively Monitor Activity: Regularly check usage to stay informed.
  5. Set an Online Schedule: Restrict internet access to specific times of the day.
  6. Use Strong Passwords: Ensure your settings cannot be easily changed by others.