BlockGAnalyticsDNSQueries — Configuration Examples for DNS-Based BlockingBlocking Google Analytics at the DNS layer is an effective privacy-preserving approach that prevents the initial network lookup that enables tracking scripts to send data. BlockGAnalyticsDNSQueries is a conceptual rule set and collection of configuration examples designed to stop DNS queries related to Google Analytics domains and thus reduce or eliminate hits to Google’s analytics endpoints before any HTTP connections are established.
This article covers:
- Why DNS-layer blocking helps
- Key Google Analytics domains and query patterns to target
- Examples for popular DNS filtering systems (Pi-hole, AdGuard Home, Unbound, dnsmasq, BIND)
- Testing and verification methods
- Caveats, limitations, and maintaining your blocklist
Why block Google Analytics at the DNS layer
Blocking at the DNS layer intercepts the name resolution process and prevents client devices from obtaining IP addresses for analytics domains. Benefits:
- Prevents telemetry before a connection occurs — no TCP/UDP sessions to analytics servers.
- Works for all devices on a network — including IoT devices or apps where you can’t install browser extensions.
- Low overhead — DNS filtering adds minimal latency when properly configured.
However, DNS blocking cannot stop first-party analytics hosted on your own domain, nor can it prevent analytics when sites use alternative domains, proxies, or server-side collection.
Key Google Analytics domains and query patterns
Common domains associated with Google Analytics and related services include:
- google-analytics.com
- analytics.google.com
- ga.js, gtag.js, analytics.js (script paths)
- www.google-analytics.com
- ssl.google-analytics.com
- stats.g.doubleclick.net
- www.googletagmanager.com (used to load analytics scripts and GTM)
- googlesyndication.com (ads and related measurement)
- doubleclick.net (advertising/measurement)
- pagead2.googlesyndication.com
To be comprehensive, block both root domains and common subdomains (www, ssl, stats, pagead2, etc.), and consider pattern-based rules that match analytics-related hostnames. Be cautious: blocking broad domains like googlesyndication.com or doubleclick.net may impact ads, publisher content, or other Google services.
Configuration examples
Below are configuration snippets and examples for several popular DNS filtering tools. Adapt the syntax to your deployment and test before applying to production environments.
Pi-hole (via blacklist / adlists)
Method 1 — Add domains to Pi-hole’s blacklist:
- In the Pi-hole admin UI, go to Group Management → Domains → Add.
- Add entries like:
- google-analytics.com
- www.google-analytics.com
- ssl.google-analytics.com
- analytics.google.com
- googletagmanager.com
- stats.g.doubleclick.net
- pagead2.googlesyndication.com
Method 2 — Use an adlist:
- Create a hosted adlist file with these domains (one per line) and add its URL in Group Management → Adlists → Add.
Pi-hole will return the configured sinkhole IP (usually 0.0.0.0) for those hostnames.
AdGuard Home
AdGuard Home supports custom filtering rules and DNS rewrites.
- DNS settings → Blocklists → Add blocklist URL or custom list containing:
- ||google-analytics.com^
- ||googletagmanager.com^
- ||doubleclick.net^
- ||googlesyndication.com^
- Or add specific domains in Filters → DNS rewrites → set to 0.0.0.0 to sinkhole.
AdGuard Home supports wildcard and regex-style filtering in its web UI.
Unbound (local zone / local-data)
For Unbound, define local-zone entries to redirect or refuse resolution.
Example unbound.conf additions:
server: local-zone: "google-analytics.com." static local-data: "google-analytics.com. 60 IN A 0.0.0.0" local-zone: "www.google-analytics.com." static local-data: "www.google-analytics.com. 60 IN A 0.0.0.0" local-zone: "ssl.google-analytics.com." static local-data: "ssl.google-analytics.com. 60 IN A 0.0.0.0" Use “deny” instead of “static” if you prefer NXDOMAIN responses:
local-zone: "google-analytics.com." deny NXDOMAIN can sometimes break scripts differently than returning a sinkhole IP.
dnsmasq
Add entries in your dnsmasq configuration or /etc/hosts to return 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.1.
Example /etc/dnsmasq.d/analytics-block.conf:
address=/google-analytics.com/0.0.0.0 address=/www.google-analytics.com/0.0.0.0 address=/ssl.google-analytics.com/0.0.0.0 address=/googletagmanager.com/0.0.0.0 address=/doubleclick.net/0.0.0.0 Then restart dnsmasq.
BIND (views or zone files)
Create zone files that return 0.0.0.0 or NXDOMAIN. Example zone configuration in named.conf:
zone "google-analytics.com" { type master; file "/etc/bind/db.empty"; }; And in /etc/bind/db.empty, configure an empty zone that points to localhost or returns NXDOMAIN. Alternatively use RPZ (response policy zone) to rewrite or block queries.
Testing and verification
- Use dig or nslookup from a client to confirm blocked responses:
- dig @your-dns-server www.google-analytics.com
- Load a webpage known to include Google Analytics and inspect network requests in the browser devtools → Network. If DNS blocking works, requests to google-analytics.com should fail or be redirected to your sinkhole.
- Use tcpdump or wireshark on your network gateway to ensure no outbound connections to known GA IPs occur.
Example dig command:
dig @192.168.1.1 www.google-analytics.com Expected sinkhole response shows 0.0.0.0 or NXDOMAIN depending on configuration.
Caveats and limitations
- First-party and same-origin analytics (hosted on the same domain as the site) will not be blocked by domain-based DNS rules.
- Many sites use Google Tag Manager (googletagmanager.com) to proxy analytics — blocking GTM can break site functionality that depends on tags.
- Blocking broad domains (doubleclick.net, googlesyndication.com) may degrade ad-supported sites or disrupt scripts.
- Some apps and services may switch to alternative domains or use server-side collection; keep your lists updated.
- DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) or DNS-over-TLS (DoT) clients that bypass your local resolver can circumvent network-level DNS blocks. Mitigate by forcing network DNS (firewall rules) or blocking known DoH endpoints if appropriate.
Maintaining and updating your blocklist
- Subscribe to reputable privacy-focused blocklists that include analytics and trackers; merge them with your custom list.
- Regularly review sites you use for breakage and add exceptions where necessary.
- Automate updates: host a central blocklist file and configure your DNS system to pull it periodically.
- Monitor logs to identify repeated queries to unblocked analytics domains and add them as needed.
Conclusion
DNS-layer blocking with BlockGAnalyticsDNSQueries-style rules can significantly reduce Google Analytics telemetry across all devices on a network. Use targeted domain blocks for google-analytics.com and related hostnames, test thoroughly, and be mindful of side effects when blocking broader domains like googlesyndication.com or doubleclick.net. Combine DNS blocking with browser-based privacy tools for layered protection.
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