Do you want to get rid of unwanted content? Having an ad blocker or disabling pop-up ads on web pages is insufficient. It’s time to get serious about content filtering, and the Ubiquity Content Filter of the UDM Pro can help you do just that – more than just ad blocking.
Additionally, Content filtering can also be used to manage bandwidth usage. With Ubiquiti UDM Pro’s content filter, users can have peace of mind knowing that their network is secure and content is being monitored appropriately. It is an invaluable tool for businesses, schools, and homes.
My reason was mainly to have an ad blocker; I’m sure most of my bandwidth is utilized for annoying banners and advertisements from the websites I visit. While using a browser extension on my browser helps, what would be ideal is to have one central solution for all of this at home.
What does a content filter do?
Content filters are designed to restrict content that is deemed inappropriate or malicious. They can be used to manage bandwidth usage by blocking content. So it could block content unsuitable for specific age groups or user types and keep users safe from potential cyber threats. You can have individual ad-blocking extensions on your browser, but a central content filter usually sends unwanted requests to a “sinkhole” and gives you feedback that this request was blocked.
The Ubiquiti UDM Pro Content Filter is an all-in-one system that handles content filtering, intrusion prevention, a firewall, and more. This allows users to select what type of content they want to block, such as pornography or gambling sites, and even customize the settings for each device connected to the network.
Pi-Hole or Adguard Home as Ad Blocker
Alternatives such as Pi-Hole and Adguard Home ad blockers offer content filtering solutions (e.g., ad blockers) that are easier to set up and manage. Ultimately, content filters offer much protection for businesses, schools, and homes, making it safe and easy for people to access the content.
Pi-Hole ad blockers are a popular open-source content filtering solution that works in conjunction with DNS servers to block content at the network level. It is designed to be easy to set up, and it can be used to block ads and other unwanted content. Pi-Hole also has a full dashboard that lets users check how well their content filter works.
Adguard Home is a similar content filter solution that works in conjunction with DNS servers to block content on the network level. Adguard Home has many features, such as filtering content, blocking ads, and protecting against malware. It also provides custom lists for content filtering and advanced parental controls.
Does UniFi do content filtering?
Yes, it does – looking into the documentation of Ubiquity, it says:
“Content Filtering is a feature found under individual networks in the Networks section of your Network application that allows you to block malicious and adult websites while also filtering explicit content from search results.“
What is Ubiquity Content Filtering on UniFi UDM?
UniFi UDM protects you from phishing, spam, malware, and other malicious domains. And with its database of malicious domains updated hourly, your security is constantly refreshed and reliable.
Can I block websites on UniFi?
Well, it is not the easiest option to do this on UniFi, but it is all configured in the Traffic Management section in the UniFi Network Application settings:
There you can specify specific Rules – for example; also one limits making connections to specific domains, IP addresses, or even Regions.
Should I filter network content?
When it comes to filtering internet content (e.g., Internet filters for adults), there are many benefits to consider. Ad blocking or blocking Video ads is one of the most popular reasons for filtering content, as it can help reduce distractions and improve overall performance. By blocking ads, you can avoid having your browsing experience bogged down by intrusive ads and pop-ups that slow down your computer or mobile device. Additionally, filtering content can also help protect your privacy by preventing malicious websites from tracking your online activity.
Overall, filtering internet content can be a great way to improve the performance of your device while also protecting your privacy and reducing distractions.
Drawbacks – especially of the Ubiquity of Implementation
While content filtering can provide a great deal of protection, there are some drawbacks to consider. For example, content filtering can be time-consuming and complex to set up and manage. It also requires technical knowledge to configure the content filters correctly.
So far, so good – that is the idea, but Ubiquity has implemented some drawbacks, especially if you run their equipment sophisticatedly.
You cannot change the content filter itself; there is only a setting to change between “Work” and “Family.” There is no way to change ad blocking behavior on your web pages. Wish there was a way to customize the content filter so that you can make more specific choices about what kind of content is filtered.
Furthermore, it would be helpful if the UDM Pro had an easier way to manage multiple content filters for different users or groups. Being the best ad blocker requires the ability to update and configure so-called blacklists; this is not the case using the content filter functionality of the UDM Pro. There are other providers (I mentioned Pi-Hole and Adguard Home above) that do a much better job.
Is UDM Pro Best to Block Ads?
UDM Pro has this one setting: “Content Filtering.” It has two options: work or family. If you are a bit familiar with an ad blocker like Pi-Hole or Adguard Home, you know that you can make some adjustments regarding blacklists or exceptions. More people do not take the time to research this, so an “out-of-the-box” feature could be a good solution.
But my experiences with the content filter were really bad. I’m running in my local network several services like:
- UDM Pro – it is (mainly) responsible for the DHCP and ADSL Dial-in
- Ubiquity Switches and Access Points (Flex-HD, Wifi 6 Long Range, etc..)
- Sophos Home Firewall as my “Backbone” of Security
- Adguard Home as Advertising “Sinkhole” and
- Several DNS Servers (BIND, Unbound, and Powerdns) powered by Unraid-based Server
After enabling the content filtering on my primary network (see below), my DNS servers and all connected devices (e.g., Android devices) suddenly stopped working. In addition, the Unraid connection to the “Cloud” was lost. I did extensive debugging and testing – and found out that the content filtering was blocking the connection to my DNS servers.
- Whitelisting of Domains (which ended up being too much work)
- Use of different DNS Ports (which didn’t help)
- Turning off content filtering entirely (which solved the problem but was not an acceptable solution)
Finally, I had to disable content filtering for my primary network because I got the unifi content filtering not working- otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to use my DNS servers. This is a serious issue if you’re running a sophisticated setup like this one. So, if content filtering is important to you, I suggest finding another way.
So because the udm pro content filtering not working and I already had an Adblocker (my Adguard Home Setup) in place – it was no big deal to return to an established and running scenario. Also, the Sophos Home Firewall is a good way to do “man-in-the-middle” HTTPS scanning of unwanted content (e.g., advertising).
Conclusion
The content filter of Ubiquity UDM Pro is a great tool for businesses, schools, and homes. It allows administrators to control the content that can be accessed through their network and protects them from cyber threats. However, content filtering (e.g., adult content or pop-ups) can be complex to set up and manage and requires technical knowledge. Additionally, content filtering may cause issues with other elements of a more sophisticated setup like mine. Therefore, users should consider using an alternative content filter solution if content filtering is important to them.
