Using AdGuard Home to make encrypted DNS lookups

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In today’s digital landscape, online privacy is more important than ever. One of the most effective ways to protect your browsing data is by using encrypted DNS lookups. In this article, we’ll explore how to set up AdGuard Home to enhance your online privacy through encrypted DNS.

What is AdGuard Home?

AdGuard Home is a network-wide software that acts as a DNS server and ad blocker. It allows you to manage DNS requests for all devices connected to your home network. By filtering out unwanted content and providing privacy features, AdGuard Home can significantly improve your online experience.

Why Use Encrypted DNS?

When you use a standard DNS, your queries are sent in plain text. This means that anyone monitoring your network can see the websites you visit. Encrypted DNS (such as DNS over HTTPS or DNS over TLS) encrypts these queries, preventing eavesdroppers from tracking your browsing activities.

Benefits of Using Encrypted DNS:

• Enhanced Privacy: Keeps your browsing history hidden from ISPs and potential snoopers.
• Improved Security: Protects against man-in-the-middle attacks where
  an attacker could intercept your DNS requests.
• Ad and Tracker Blocking: AdGuard Home can block ads and trackers at the DNS level, enhancing your overall browsing experience.

Setting Up AdGuard Home for Encrypted DNS Lookups

1. Install AdGuard Home

   • Download AdGuard Home: Visit the AdGuard DNS Wiki and follow the instructions provided for your chosen installation platform.

   • Install the Software: Follow the installation instructions specific to your platform. You can run AdGuard Home on various devices, including Raspberry Pi, Windows, macOS, and Linux.

2. Configure AdGuard Home

   • Access the Web Interface: Open your web browser and navigate to http://your-server-ip:3000 (replace your-server-ip with the actual IP address of the device running AdGuard Home).

   • Initial Setup: Follow the setup wizard. You’ll be prompted to configure your DNS settings. For a basic setup, recommended settings will suffice.

   • Choose DNS Providers: You are able to just copy and paste this into the DNS upstream configuration box. For reference, "H3" will only use HTTP/3 upstreams, and will not use any other connection standard to ensure lookups remain encrypted in transport. The recommended list of providers is as follows:

   h3://cloudflare-dns.com/dns-query
   h3://dns.google/dns-query
   h3://unfiltered.adguard-dns.com/dns-query
   h3://anycast.uncensoreddns.org/dns-query
   h3://freedns.controld.com/p0
   

3. Enable Encrypted DNS (not required) Enabling the HTTPS option for AdGuard Home may not be necessary, as all upstream requests are already encrypted through "H3" DNS providers. Since third parties can't track you from within your network, using HTTPS might not add significant value. However, if you're still interested in enabling it, the AdGuard team have provided a comprehensive article that you can find available here.

4. Configure Your Devices

   • Change DNS Settings: On your devices (PCs, smartphones, etc.), change the DNS settings to point to your AdGuard Home server.

   • Test Your Configuration: Use a DNS leak test service to ensure your DNS queries are being routed through AdGuard Home and are encrypted.

5. Regular Maintenance

   • Update AdGuard Home: Regularly check for updates to ensure you have the latest features and security patches.

   • Review Logs and Settings: Periodically review your DNS logs and settings to optimize performance and security.

Conclusion

Setting up AdGuard Home for encrypted DNS lookups is a straightforward way to enhance your online privacy. By encrypting your DNS queries and blocking unwanted content, you can create a safer browsing environment for yourself and your family. Take the first step towards better online privacy today!