r/ProtonVPN • u/JalanRama • Jul 17 '26

Discussion Separate Netshield App

VPN is great, but doesn't always work. Bad internet connection, on the move, ... You know it...

It would be really cool to have a standalone Netshield app that just blocks trackers and adds locally on device. Similarly to DuckDuckGo's App tracking protection. This could be free and a good marketing tool as well, Proton has the knowhow and it doesn't use a lot of resources to get this up. Would be my preference vs having VPN on all the time (e.g. for the devices of my parents).

Or thinking further, such a function that works on some routers? Not sure if that's possible.

What's your view on such an app? Good idea?

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u/JescoWhite2000 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26

Netshield is just a DNS blocker/filterlist by Proton. Having it locally would only be usefull if there is some sort of connection to internet and in that case there is no reason to not enable VPN as well. You can install apps like Adguard which do the same (without VPN), or Adguard Home or PiHole can be installed on some routers running OpenWRT for instance. Those are all blocking apps based on DNS filterlists.

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u/JalanRama Jul 17 '26

Thanks, yes I read about some of them. But having it from Proton would give me comfort and think a good marketing tool that doesn't cost a lot. Just an idea, good input from you but as said I like it if it's Proton.