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Setup Instructions

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Zeta Square edited this page Jun 28, 2026 · 4 revisions

Background

Every time you try to open a website in your browser, your device uses a DNS server ↗ that is usually provided by your Internet service provider (ISP) to translate the website's domain name, like anfscanberra.org.au ↗, to its IP address, like 198.38.93.191, where the website is hosted. By using DadsDNS Server for this translation job, your device will receive address not found response for malware, fake news, adult content and gambling websites, making internet browsing for you and your family a little safer.

DadsDNS is primarily created for Hamro Pathshala and Australia Nepal Friendship Society (ANFS) member families to reduce exposure to certain types of websites. It uses the Technitium open-source DNS server software to provide DNS service. It uses the following blocklists, developed and maintained by dedicated individuals who like to keep the internet cleaner:

This list may be extended to include additional lists in future.

DadsDNS currently forwards all DNS queries to Cloudflare's Family DNS server ↗, which further blocks malware and adult-content websites. DadsDNS is hosted in AWS ↗ by ZetaSquare Australia. The cost of this hosting service is funded by Australia Nepal Friendship Society (ANFS) through various sponsorships, including an Australian Government's Cybersecurity Grant. This service has been provisioned for ANFS members only. ZetaSquare Australia, ANFS and sponsors are not liable for any harm caused by unauthorised use of this service.

Set up

By default, your devices use a DNS server ↗ provided by your Internet service provider (ISP), which may also sell additional family protection services. If you like, you can change this to use DadsDNS for Families instead. It uses Cloudflare's Free Family DNS Service and blocks additional websites to help you protect your family.

Follow the instructions below for your device or router to use the DadsDNS service for free.

Device or router-specific guides

DadsDNS uses the same privacy commitments as the Cloudflare's privacy commitments.

DadsDNS for ANFS Families

DadsDNS for ANFS Families automatically blocks DNS queries to domains associated with malware, phishing, fakenew, gambling and adult content.

Use the following DNS resolvers to block malware and adult content:

  • family.dadsdns.site

When a queried domain is classified as blacklisted, DadsDNS returns the address 0.0.0.0 instead of the real address. This prevents your device from connecting to the blocked site.

Test DadsDNS for ANFS Families

After configuring DadsDNS for ANFS Families, verify that filtering is working with the following test URLs:

DNS over HTTPS (DoH)

DNS over HTTPS (DoH) encrypts your DNS queries by sending them as HTTPS requests. This prevents anyone between your device and the resolver — such as your ISP or a network attacker — from seeing which domains you look up. For more information, refer to the Learning Centre article on DNS encryption ↗.

To configure an encrypted DoH connection to DadsDNS for ANFS Families, enter one of the following URLs in your DoH-compatible client or router:

https://family.dadsdns.site/dns-query

DNS over TLS (DoT)

DNS over TLS (DoT) encrypts DNS queries using TLS on a dedicated port (853). Like DoH, it prevents eavesdropping on your DNS traffic. For more information, refer to the Learning Centre article on DNS encryption ↗.

To configure an encrypted DoT connection to DadsDNS for ANFS Families, enter one of the following hostnames in your DoT-compatible client or router:

family.dadsdns.site

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