Trying to block trends.revcontent.com

Help
1

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Expected Behaviour:

Blacklisted both "trends.revcontent.com" and revcontent.com" on the Pi-hole Blacklist management web interface page; expected ads from this domain to disappear from https://www.westernjournal.com/ where they appear.

Actual Behaviour:

Ads continue to reappear after reload of the website page.

Debug Token:

https://tricorder.pi-hole.net/8ggpcgvmcj

2

I note that both of these domains are included on one of the default lists that ship with Pi-hole, which you are currently using.

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/hosts

There are some potential causes here:

(1) the ads are coming from different domains than those you have blacklisted

(2) the client device might be using a DNS other than Pi-hole

(3) the browser might be using private DNS (or DNS over https) and the DNS queries from the browser are not going to Pi-hole.

What is the output of this command from the Pi terminal:

grep revcontent.com /var/log/pihole.log | tail -n25

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The output of the above command is null/blank; the shell returns to the default prompt without any additional content.

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That shows there have been no queries for this domains. It appears the client on which you are seeing the ads is not using Pi-hole for DNS.

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I have determined conclusively that AVAST VPN is subverting DNS processing through Pihole.

Translation: Turn Avast VPN on; revcontent.com ads show up. Turn Avast VPN off; revcontent.com ads disappear.

I am reaching out to Avast in this context.

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Turn off RealSite in AVAST, see also Hilfe: Windows löst Hostname auch ohne PiHole auf? - #26 by Chris80

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I am using Avast Secureline VPN, not Premium Security. An online chat with an Avast rep seems to confirm that there is no way to by pass their VPN DNS service; I have as a result cancelled my subscription and will look into NordVPN to see of that service offers DNS bypass. Avast's 30-day guarantee precludes me from a prorated refund as I pay for a year in advance.

10

Apparently NordVPN has the same issue; I have cancelled that subscription as well.

Does ANYONE know of a VPN service that doesn't bypass pihole DNS on the local network?

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Thanks Dan; I'll give 'em a shout.

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