Setup Proxy to Block Google

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collint20

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#265360 18-Jan-2020 05:45

QUESTION 1: I have an Android T.V. and I want to set up a proxy to block access to Google searches, how do I do this? What is a PROXY? Is it a number I can type in?

QUESTION 2: If I use a VPN service for my Android T.V., is there still a way to configure the PROXY to block Google?

Thank you,

Collin

timmmay

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#2401029 18-Jan-2020 05:51

Android TV is a Google device. If you block Google you may not get updates, and you won't be able to download apps or app updates.

Best way to block Google is to unplug it from the network, but that makes it less useful.

A fairly easy way might be possible using a router and a Pi Hole:

Set up Pi Hole (software) as a DNS server on a Raspberry Pi
Have your router hand out the Pi Hole as DNS
Block Google DNS on your router (I think it's 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) so the Android TV can't look up servers by name
Configure Pi Hole not to resolve domains you don't want it to

A proxy by itself won't help you - it's like a go-between two devices. To use a proxy you'd probably have to put Android TV on its own subnet that has no internet access, set up a proxy server / filter type device, set up Android to use the proxy, and give the proxy internet access. Given the details of your question this might be a bit too complex.

collint20

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#2401030 18-Jan-2020 06:18

Excellent and quick response!

Thank you so much.

I will look into the Rasberry Pi option. Rasberry Pi is a device that would connect into my wi-fi device?

I gain access to the internet via a service provider called: "Spectrum". They provide a Modem

Modem --> wi-fi router --> Android T.V.

I entered "OpenDNS" in to the wi-fi router settings, which blocks most unwanted websites. But, I cannot block unwanted google searches.

I don't really want to filter google searches from the wi-fi router level, but I do want to filter from the Android T.V. level.

Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you

Jase2985

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#2401033 18-Jan-2020 07:34

what are you trying to achieve by blocking google?

timmmay

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#2401041 18-Jan-2020 08:01

Understanding your need is probably key here. Some of this stuff can get quite technical. Pi Hole requires a raspberry pi, pi hole installed and a static IP set up, connected to your router via ethernet, and your router DHCP configured to hand out the pi hole IP as the DNS server. You can also use pi hole as your DHCP server, disabling the router DHCP. None of this is super complex, but if you're not particularly technical it might be a little challenging.

sbiddle

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#2401083 18-Jan-2020 08:24

Simple answer is "no" because Google isn't a single product.

What are you trying to block and what are you trying to achieve?

cyril7

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#2401084 18-Jan-2020 08:28

Having seen someone attempt to do this before, I would recommend you simply drop the device in a bucket of water, as that is how useful it will be if isolated from Google.

Cyril

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#2401087 18-Jan-2020 08:48

Most Google devices bypass piholes by virtue of the fact they have 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 "hardcoded" as their DNS servers. Only if they can't talk to those two public DNS servers will they resort to using the DNS handed to them by DHCP. I don't know if this is true for Android TV or not, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is.

There's two ways to fix this:

a) Blocking access to 8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4 at the router level. You could even statically route these two IP's somewhere, as a horrid hack.

b) Setting up an Outbound NAT rule to redirect all requests to 8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4 to your pihole.

Both options require a home CPE that's more configurable than most simple "I do NAT hurp-a-derp" ISP supplied CPEs, though I'd think option A with a static route is probably more likely to be available to you.

I do option b at home and it works a treat, the Chromecasts think they're talking to 8.8.8.8 but they're talking to the pihole virtual-machine.

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collint20

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2401202 18-Jan-2020 11:16

Thanks for the great suggestions everyone !

I have a great filter on my iphone, by doing this:

Settings --> Screen Time --> Content & Privacy Restrictions --> Content Restrictions --> and set filters here.

Then when I go to google search; explicit, pornographic content won't appear

It works great !

I want to achieve the same thing on my Android TV, which can also access the web.

So, I installed "OpenDNS" on wi-fi router which works great for most stuff, but not for google search on Android T.V.

I use Android T.V. to surf the web, and there is no filter (unlike iPhone)

I don't know how iPhone filters work, but they work great! Just hoped somehow I could set up the same thing on Android T.V.

Any suggestions?

xpd

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#2401303 18-Jan-2020 14:33

collint20:

Thanks for the great suggestions everyone !

I have a great filter on my iphone, by doing this:

Settings --> Screen Time --> Content & Privacy Restrictions --> Content Restrictions --> and set filters here.

Then when I go to google search; explicit, pornographic content won't appear

It works great !

Uhh... Google dosent tend to show those results unless youve searched specifically for it.

Anyway, sounds like you want web filtering.

Something like https://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-utm-home-edition.aspx would do the trick.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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freitasm

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#2401309 18-Jan-2020 14:48

The OP can do web filtering (sort of) with OpenDNS. The OP wants to block Google searches.

yitz

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#2401310 18-Jan-2020 14:48

Point google.com to SafeSearch virtual IPs 216.239.32.20 and 216.239.38.120 (I assume OpenDNS can do this for you).

Some ISPs will also offer filtering services that may be suitable. Slingshot & Orcon offer Family Filter and I recall Spark does something also.

Failing that route your traffic through China? Chinese Government will handle it for you!

ANglEAUT

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#2401535 18-Jan-2020 23:21

collint20: ... So, I installed "OpenDNS" on wi-fi router which works great for most stuff, but not for google search on Android T.V.

I use Android T.V. to surf the web, and there is no filter (unlike iPhone) ...

Browse to google.com, click the Settings button at the bottom right & enable Safe Search. Job done! Everything further on is for extra info.
1. Direct link: https://www.google.com/preferences
Safe Search explained by Google
If you are using OpenDNS servers, make sure to update your IPv6 DNS servers to "::ffff:208.67.222.123" & "::ffff:208.67.220.123" as well. See here
Apple's help article only really explains how to turn on content filtering. A bit more info is available from protectyoungeyes.com. Start at screen "shot 30
"A proxy server acts as a gateway between you and the internet. It’s an intermediary server separating end users from the websites they browse. Proxy servers provide varying levels of functionality, security, and privacy depending on your use case or needs ..."
1. You can have a proxy on the client itself, on the local network or on the internet
2. The device must be configured to use the proxy
  1. This means that if you do not block all outgoing traffic on your router except for the proxy, devices not configured to use the proxy will connect out directly & bypassing the purpose of the proxy
3. Depending on the location of the VPN origination & the location of the proxy, a VPN connection could potentially bypass the proxy, or slow you down as your traffic bounces across the continents
4. See here, here & here

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Kiwifruta

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#2401541 19-Jan-2020 00:42

Clean browsing DNS does web filtering and safe searches on the various search engines. Like ok them up. Although you’ll need to be able to redirect hardcoded requests to Google DNS.