hBlock
A POSIX shell script that builds a hosts file blocking ad, tracking and malware domains.
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About hBlock
hBlock is a POSIX-compliant shell script. It downloads lists of domains that serve ads, tracking scripts and malware from multiple sources and merges them into a hosts file. Blocked domains then fail to resolve on that machine. No DNS server or background service is needed.
Because it is a single script, it runs on most Unix-like systems and can be scheduled to refresh the lists. The repository documents its sources and packaging options, and includes a man page.
Strengths
- Single portable POSIX shell script
- Combines several blocklist sources
- No resident service or DNS server needed
- Man page and documented sources
Limitations
- Only protects the machine whose hosts file it writes
- No per-app or per-request control
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree to download and use.
- License
- Proprietary
- Developer
- Héctor Molinero Fernández
- Platforms
- Linux, Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Unix users who want simple hosts-file ad and malware blocking
- Categories
- CLI tools, DNS filtering, Privacy tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to hBlock
Compare allSoftware that can replace hBlock for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
AdAway
System-wide Android ad blocker using hosts files or a local VPN.
AdAway applies hosts-file blocking on Android, with a local VPN mode when root is unavailable, under a GPL-3.0 license.
dnscrypt-proxy
Encrypts your DNS lookups so your internet provider cannot read or tamper with them, and blocks domains while it is there.
dnscrypt-proxy runs as a resident local proxy that filters domains and also encrypts DNS, configured through a TOML file.
personalDNSfilter
Lightweight Java DNS filter proxy that blocks ad and malware domains on Android and desktops.
personalDNSfilter is a Java DNS filter proxy for desktops and Android that blocks ad and malware domains with encrypted DNS support.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Pi-hole
A DNS server for your home network that refuses to look up ad and tracker domains, for every device at once.
AdGuard Home
Network-wide ad and tracker blocking in a single binary, with encrypted DNS built in rather than bolted on.
Blocky
Lightweight DNS proxy with blocklists, written for container deployments.
OpenWrt adblock
A DNS-based ad and abuse domain blocking package for OpenWrt routers, covering every device on the network.
AdGuard DNS
Public filtering DNS resolver with encrypted transports.
