How to block advertising on my network using raspberry pi 4 #raspberrypi #blockadvertisement #adblocker #blockad #ad

 Using a Raspberry Pi 4 to block advertising on your network is commonly done by setting up a Pi-hole. Pi-hole acts as a network-wide ad blocker, filtering out unwanted content before it reaches your devices. Here's a step-by-step guide to set up Pi-hole on your Raspberry Pi 4:

### Requirements

- Raspberry Pi 4

- microSD card (8GB or larger)

- Power supply for Raspberry Pi

- Network connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi)

- Optional: Case for Raspberry Pi

### Step-by-Step Guide

#### 1. Prepare the microSD Card

1. **Download Raspberry Pi OS:**

   - Go to the [Raspberry Pi website](https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/) and download Raspberry Pi OS (Lite version is recommended for Pi-hole).

2. **Flash the OS to the microSD Card:**

   - Use a tool like [Balena Etcher](https://www.balena.io/etcher/) to flash the downloaded OS image to the microSD card.

3. **Enable SSH:**

   - After flashing the OS, create an empty file named `ssh` (without any extension) in the boot partition of the microSD card. This enables SSH access.

#### 2. Set Up the Raspberry Pi

1. **Insert the microSD Card:**

   - Insert the microSD card into the Raspberry Pi and power it on.

2. **Connect to the Raspberry Pi:**

   - Find the IP address of the Raspberry Pi on your network. You can use a network scanner or check your router’s connected devices list.

   - SSH into the Raspberry Pi using a terminal (replace `pi_ip_address` with the actual IP address):

     ```sh

     ssh pi@pi_ip_address

     ```

   - The default password is `raspberry`.

3. **Update the System:**

   - Once logged in, update the system packages:

     ```sh

     sudo apt update

     sudo apt upgrade -y

     ```

#### 3. Install Pi-hole

1. **Run the Pi-hole Installation Script:**

   - Execute the following command to download and install Pi-hole:

     ```sh

     curl -sSL https://install.pi-hole.net | bash

     ```

2. **Follow the On-Screen Instructions:**

   - During the installation, you’ll be asked to configure various settings:

     - **Static IP Address:** Assign a static IP address to your Raspberry Pi.

     - **Upstream DNS Provider:** Choose an upstream DNS provider (e.g., Google, OpenDNS).

     - **Block Lists:** The default block lists are generally sufficient, but you can add more later if needed.

     - **Web Interface:** Enable the web interface for easier management.

     - **Logging:** Choose your preferred logging level.

#### 4. Configure Your Network

1. **Set Pi-hole as DNS Server:**

   - To make all devices on your network use Pi-hole, set the Raspberry Pi’s IP address as the primary DNS server in your router’s DHCP settings.

2. **Test the Configuration:**

   - Restart your router and devices to ensure they use the new DNS settings.

   - Visit websites that typically display ads to verify that ads are being blocked.

#### 5. Manage Pi-hole

1. **Access the Web Interface:**

   - Open a web browser and go to `http://pi.hole/admin` or `http://pi_ip_address/admin`.

   - Log in using the password provided during installation.

2. **Adjust Settings and Block Lists:**

   - From the web interface, you can view statistics, update block lists, whitelist or blacklist domains, and adjust various settings.

### Optional: Additional Security and Maintenance

- **Change Default Password:**

  ```sh

  pihole -a -p

  ```

- **Regular Updates:**

  - Regularly update Pi-hole and the Raspberry Pi OS to ensure you have the latest security patches and features.

By following these steps, you’ll have a network-wide ad blocker set up with your Raspberry Pi 4, significantly improving your browsing experience by reducing unwanted ads and tracking.