A Quieter Internet: The Ultimate pfBlockerNG Guide for pfSense (2025)

Let’s pause and take stock of our journey. We have forged a powerful digital fortress with pfSense, replacing the insecure consumer-grade hardware that held us captive. We have meticulously configured its core, laying a foundation of stability and intelligence. We have even built a secret, encrypted passage with OpenVPN, giving us secure access to our kingdom from anywhere in the world.

These are monumental achievements. They are the essential, load-bearing walls of our sovereign cloud. But their benefits, while critical, are largely invisible. They are the quiet hum of security and stability running in the background.

This post changes that. Today, we install our first major “quality-of-life” improvement. We are going to deploy a service that delivers an immediate, tangible, and deeply satisfying reward not just for you, but for every single person and device on your network. We are going to silence the noise.

We will install and configure pfBlockerNG, a powerful pfSense package that will block ads, trackers, and malicious domains at the network level. This isn’t just another browser extension; this is a foundational upgrade to your internet experience. The annoying banner ads on news sites? Gone. The creepy trackers that follow you from site to site? Blocked. The malware domains that try to infect your computer? Never even reached. And the best part? This protection extends to everything: your smart TV, your gaming console, your guests’ phones, and even your own mobile device when connected via our new VPN.

This is the moment the abstract value of our project becomes undeniably real. This is the first major win that demonstrates the power of a self-managed life to your entire household. Let’s build a quieter, faster, and more private internet.

Why Router-Level Blocking is a Game Changer

You might already use an ad-blocker in your web browser, and that’s a great first step. But what we are about to build is in a completely different league. Understanding the “why” is key to appreciating the power of this approach.

• Comprehensive Coverage: A browser extension only protects that one browser. It does nothing for the ads inside your mobile apps, on your smart TV’s YouTube client, or on your work laptop when you connect to the Wi-Fi. pfBlockerNG operates at the DNS level, the address book of the internet. It protects every single device on your network, no questions asked.
• Enhanced Security: Many ad networks are, unfortunately, vectors for malware and phishing scams (“malvertising”). By blocking these domains at the router, you prevent the malicious content from ever even having a chance to load on your computer, adding a powerful layer of security.
• Improved Performance: Web pages load noticeably faster when they don’t have to download dozens of ad scripts, images, and tracking beacons. It also saves bandwidth, which is particularly beneficial for slower internet connections.
• Unbreakable Privacy: We will block the domains of known tracking and analytics companies. This means the vast, hidden surveillance network that follows you around the internet, building a profile of your interests and habits, is suddenly blinded at the source.
• Always-On Protection: Because we have our OpenVPN server, this protection travels with you. When you connect your phone to your home VPN from a coffee shop, you are still routing your DNS requests through your pfSense box. You get the same ad-free, private experience on the go.

Installation of pfBlockerNG

First, we need to install the package itself. We will be using the devel version, which is the actively developed branch and generally contains the latest features and fixes.

1. In the pfSense web GUI, navigate to System > Package Manager.
2. Click on the Available Packages tab.
3. In the Search term box, type pfblocker.
4. Find pfBlockerNG-devel in the list. Do not install the regular pfBlockerNG. The -devel version is the one you want.
5. Click the green Install button to the right of the package.
6. A confirmation screen will appear. Click Confirm.
7. The package installation will begin. You will see the progress in a console window. Be patient, as it can take a few minutes. Once you see “Installation successfully completed,” you can close the window.

You will now have a new menu item under Firewall > pfBlockerNG.

Initial Configuration and DNSBL Setup

When you first navigate to the pfBlockerNG menu, a setup wizard will start. We’ll walk through this to get the basics in place.

1. Navigate to Firewall > pfBlockerNG.
2. Welcome Wizard: Click Next to begin.
3. Step 1: Interface/Rules: This step determines where pfBlockerNG will apply its rules.
   • Inbound Firewall Rules: Select WAN. This is for blocking traffic coming into your network from the internet.
   • Outbound Firewall Rules: Select LAN. This is for blocking traffic going out from your network.
   • Click Next.
4. Step 2: IP Configuration: The wizard will finish its initial setup. Click Finish.

Now you will be on the main pfBlockerNG dashboard. It can look intimidating, but we are going to focus on the most powerful component first: DNSBL (DNS Blacklist).

Configuring the DNS Blacklist

This is the heart of our ad-blocking system. It works by integrating with the Unbound DNS Resolver on pfSense. When a device on your network tries to look up the address of a known ad or tracker domain (e.g., ads.annoying.com), DNSBL intercepts the request and essentially tells it, “that address doesn’t exist.” The ad can never be loaded.

1. In the pfBlockerNG menu, go to the DNSBL tab.
2. Check the box for Enable DNSBL.
3. In the DNSBL Virtual IP field, enter a private IP address that is not in use on your network. 10.10.10.1 is a common choice and is perfectly fine. This is the “black hole” address where blocked domains will be sent.
4. DNSBL Listening Interface: Select LAN.
5. DNSBL Mode: Ensure Unbound Mode is selected. This provides the best performance and integration.
6. Wildcard Blocking (TLD): Check this box. This enables a powerful feature that can block entire swaths of malicious domains.
7. Scroll to the bottom and click Save.

Adding Your Blocklists (Feeds)

Now we need to tell DNSBL what to block. We do this by subscribing to “feeds” or “blocklists,” which are community-curated lists of known ad, tracker, and malware domains.

1. Still on the DNSBL tab, click on the sub-tab called DNSBL Feeds.
2. pfBlockerNG comes with a great built-in list called ADs_Basic. Let’s make sure it’s enabled. Find ADs_Basic in the list and ensure its State is set to ON.
3. Adding More Lists: We can add feeds from the community. A highly respected and comprehensive source is the “StevenBlack” hosts file.
   • Click the Add button at the bottom of the page.
   • Feed Name: StevenBlack_Unified
   • Description: Unified Ads + Malware list
   • DNSBL Source:
     • Format: Auto
     • State: ON
     • Source: Paste this URL: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/hosts
     • Header/Label: StevenBlack
   • Leave everything else at its default and click Save.

You now have two powerful ad and malware blocking lists enabled. This is a great starting point.

Forcing an Update and Reload

pfBlockerNG doesn’t apply changes instantly. We need to tell it to download our new lists and reconfigure itself.

1. Navigate to the Update tab in pfBlockerNG.
2. Under “Select ‘Force’ option”, choose Reload.
3. Under “Select ‘Reload’ option”, choose All.
4. Click the Run button.

A log window will appear, showing the progress. You will see it downloading and processing your lists. This can take several minutes. Wait for it to complete. Once finished, your ad-blocker is active!

The Second Layer – Secure Upstream DNS

For a truly robust “belt-and-suspenders” approach, we will also configure pfSense’s main DNS Resolver to use a privacy-respecting, ad-blocking provider as its upstream source. This means that if any DNS query somehow isn’t caught by pfBlockerNG, it gets a second chance to be blocked by our upstream provider. This follows the expert recommendation from the FUTO guide. We will use AdGuard DNS.

1. Navigate to Services > DNS Resolver.
2. On the General Settings tab, scroll down to the DNSSEC section and check the box to Enable DNSSEC Support. This adds a layer of security to your DNS queries.
3. Scroll down to the Outgoing Network Interfaces and ensure WAN is selected.
4. Now, scroll to the very bottom and check the box for Use SSL/TLS for Outgoing DNS Queries. This encrypts your DNS lookups so your ISP cannot see them.
5. Click Save.
6. Now, go back to the top of the General Settings page. Under the DNS Query Forwarding section, check the box to Enable Forwarding Mode.
7. Two new fields will appear: Outdoing DNS Servers.
   • In the IP Address column, enter the IPs for AdGuard DNS:
     • 94.140.14.14
     • 94.140.15.15
   • In the TLS Hostname column, for both entries, enter: dns.adguard-dns.com
8. Click Save, and then click Apply Changes at the top of the page.

Your entire network is now using encrypted DNS and is double-filtered for ads and trackers.

THE Most Important Step – Verification

It’s not enough to set it up; we must prove it’s working.

Clear Your DNS Cache

Your computer and browser store a local cache of DNS results. We need to clear this to ensure you’re getting fresh results from your newly configured pfSense box.

• Windows: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run ipconfig /flushdns.
• macOS: Open Terminal and run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.
• Web Browser: Close and re-open your web browser.

Ad-Blocking Tests

Open a web browser and visit a few sites that are typically heavy with ads, like news sites or recipe blogs. You should immediately notice a dramatic difference.

For a more scientific test, use an online tool:

• Go to https://d3ward.github.io/toolz/adblock.html. This page will test your connection against a variety of ad and tracker domains. A healthy pfBlockerNG setup should show a score well over 90%.

DNS Leak Test

This test will confirm that your DNS queries are being handled by your pfSense box and AdGuard, not leaking to your ISP.

• Go to https://www.dnsleaktest.com/. Run the “Extended test.” The results should show servers belonging to AdGuard or your ISP’s network, but the key is that it should not show a long list of different providers.

VPN Test

The final, glorious test.

1. Disconnect your mobile phone from Wi-Fi so it is on cellular data.
2. Connect to your home network using the OpenVPN client.
3. On your phone’s browser, go to the ad-block test site from Step 2.
4. You should see the same high score! This proves that your ad-blocking protection is now traveling with you wherever you go.

What’s Next?

You have done it. You have implemented a powerful, network-wide service that has immediately and dramatically improved the quality of your digital life. Every ad-free webpage, every tracker-free search, is a testament to the control you now wield over your own network. This tangible victory provides the motivation and momentum to tackle the next great stage of our journey.

We have built the walls, and we have secured the gate. The foundation is complete. Now, it is time to build the castle itself. In the next module, “The Server,” we will begin the exciting process of building the hardware and installing the operating system for the machine that will become the heart of your sovereign cloud, hosting all of the amazing services we plan to deploy.