Monday's LG TV investigation showed how much a single device can phone home. NextDNS is one of the best ways to stop it, a privacy-focused DNS service that blocks ads, trackers, and telemetry for every device on your network, not just your browser.
What it does
Blocks ads, trackers, malware, and phishing at the DNS level, before the connection is made, so it works for smart TVs and apps, not just websites.
Encrypts your DNS lookups, so your internet provider can't see (or sell) which sites and services you use.
Puts you in control of logging: keep none, or set a retention window and a data region.
Shows you a live log of exactly which device is calling which tracker, so you can watch your TV misbehave in real time.
Why we recommend it
It plugs the gap browser extensions can't reach: the smart TV, the thermostat, the phone app with no settings. It's run by a small, independent company that says it's founder-funded and doesn't sell data (worth verifying against its published no-logs policy, as always). Free for personal use.
How to start
Go to nextdns.io and click "Try it now", no signup needed to test.
Create a free account to get your own configuration.
Set it as the DNS on your router (covers everything at once), or on each device.
Watch the log, you'll quickly see which gadgets phone home the most.
Free for personal use at nextdns.io.
Quick tip
Set NextDNS once on your router and every device on your WiFi is covered, including the smart TV with no privacy menu worth trusting.
Up next · Friday
How to shut off the data collection built into Windows itself.