You might have heard some of your nerdier friends talk about their PiHole, and if that got your curiosity piqued after the initial giggle this is the post for you!
A PiHole is a small DNS server that was originally designed to run on a Raspberry Pi, which reads one or more block-lists, the practical upshot of which is that putting one in your Network will block a large swath of URLs known to serve ads, malware, disinformation etc. You can also block categories like porn, or gambling sites.
Keeping ads out of your network is more than just convenient. Ads are increasingly used to collect your data, install malware on your device, or phish your device for account information; including logins and passwords. Internet ads are a security issue you should take seriously.
The PiHole, while quick and convenient, is purpose built for blocklists and lacks some features you may want or expect in a DNS server. Because of this, The Small-Tech Co-Operative uses and recommends Technitium DNS. Technitium DNS has a similarly small footprint, and can be run on a Raspberry Pi, or an outdated desktop. Technitium also allows more flexibility, with more robust DHCP and DNS Zone tools, and has proven to be secure, reliable, and well suited for both simple, and advanced use cases.
The Small-Tech Co-Operative can repurpose an old, underpowered desktop as a tool that will help keep your network and devices secure for years, for a price that suits your budget.