Found a free DNS filtering setup that blocked 90% of my phishing emails

I was getting hit with phishing emails nonstop at work. Like 20 a day. My IT guy said to try a custom DNS filter through Pi-hole. I set it up last weekend with a blocklist from Firebog. Cut the junk way down. Now I only see maybe 2 sketchy emails a week. Anyone else run Pi-hole for email filtering or just for ad blocking?

2 comments

2 Comments

jackson.jenny3d ago

Wait, I gotta push back on this a little. DNS filtering is great for blocking bad websites and ads, but it's not really stopping phishing emails from hitting your inbox. Pi-hole blocks the links inside the emails from loading, not the emails themselves. So you're still getting the phishing messages, they just can't connect to the scam site if you click. That's helpful but it's not cutting your actual email volume by 90%. Most phishing emails come from legitimate looking domains anyway, ones that aren't on any blocklist yet. I'd be careful thinking this is a total fix because the real danger is someone clicking a link in that remaining 10% and getting burned.

black.amy3d ago

90% less phishing is like saying 90% less soggy when you fall in a lake.