NextDNS

Browsing the web safely and privately is something that should be a given, especially now that so much has evolved in the online space. While the internet may not really be such a lawless environment, the privacy infringements that have been occurring over the last few years make users rightful to be paranoid.

What to do, then? VPN solutions are worth considering, and so are privacy-focused browser add-ons. If you want to protect your privacy at the network level, though, then NextDNS might be for you: it protects users from security threats, blocks web tracking, and more: all in an easy-to-configure package.

Considering the complexity that comes with implementing a firewall, configuring this one is surprisingly simple. Run the executable, then copy the configuration ID from the developer's setup page. The tool will then start, and you'll be able to surf the web more securely.

Navigate to your setup page in your browser, and you'll be able to tweak some settings. The main screen displays an overview of your connection's endpoints and linked IP, while the Security tab allows you to configure the level of security for your browsing. Several protection modules can be enabled to help users deal with cryptojacking, DNS rebinding, typosquatting, and other such matters. The list of available options is quite long, and the tool does well to explain what each function does.

The Privacy tab works similarly: users can block disguised third-party trackers, as well as affiliate and tracking links. Besides that, you can also use blocklists and add native tracking protection.

Parents will appreciate the Parental Control capabilities, which allow them to provide a safer, less chaotic experience for their children.

Denying and allowing domains is also a nice addition to an already well-equipped toolbox, and they function as you would expect: put a domain on the Denylist or Allowlist to deny or allow all of its subdomains.

In addition, Analytics can help users keep up-to-date with their network: data about queries, domains, traffic, and other such info is readily available.

NextDNS works to provide users with a safer and more private browsing experience, and with how easy it is to set everything up, it's definitely worth considering.