Connor DeLoach • Corpus Christi Parish

Protect Your Family Online

Hi, I am Connor DeLoach from the Corpus Christi parish community. I put this together to share what has genuinely helped me protect family life online in a practical, affordable way.

As a Catholic, I like that NextDNS is thorough without being expensive (about $20/year), and that one router-level setup can help protect every device in the home. It also gives you device-by-device visibility so you can see what domains are being requested and respond early.

This guide is written from one parish member to another: clear steps, real-world defaults, and practical ways to add healthy friction to distractions like social media while improving safety for kids and adults alike.

What on earth is DNS?

Every time you type a name like google.com, your phone or computer has to translate that name into a number to find the site. DNS is that translator.

Think of DNS like a phone book lookup that happens in the background every time a page or app loads. Your internet provider usually does this for you automatically, so most people never notice it.

Why does that matter for security or privacy?

Each DNS lookup reveals which names you are trying to reach. If your DNS is unfiltered and unencrypted, those lookups can be logged or observed. Example: a lookup to sportsresults.com already reveals a likely interest, even before a page fully opens.

What is NextDNS then?

Think of NextDNS as a smarter, safer DNS phone book. It still performs the same name-to-number lookup, but it can block malicious domains, filter categories you choose, and encrypt DNS requests so they are harder to snoop on.

It can also reduce ads and trackers before content loads, including in many apps where browser-only blockers do not help much.

Important: NextDNS is not a virus scanner. It is an early filter that prevents many risky connections before they start.

Why set this up in the first place?

  • Affordable protection: roughly $20/year for premium features.
  • Router-level setup can cover every device on your home Wi-Fi automatically.
  • Per-device DNS logs help you monitor patterns and catch issues early.
  • Block specific sites, apps, and games, or time-block them during focused hours.
  • Bypass-protection options can block common circumvention paths like Tor and many VPN/proxy routes.
  • Time-based blocking adds friction when you or your kids need focus.
  • Updated malware, spyware, and adult-content blocklists work in the background.
  • Use one baseline profile for home plus stricter profiles for child devices.

How this overview helps you decide

This is not an installation walkthrough. It is a clear overview to help you decide whether NextDNS is worth learning for your household before spending time on setup.

  • Understand the benefits in plain language before touching settings.
  • See how this supports family safety and adult self-discipline at the same time.
  • Learn which features matter most so your setup effort pays off.
  • Decide whether this is a good fit for your household before implementation.

You do not need to be a technical expert to understand the value first and implement later.

Why families keep using it

Affordable protection: roughly $20/year for premium features.

Router-level setup can cover every device on your home Wi-Fi automatically.

Per-device DNS logs help you monitor patterns and catch issues early.

Block specific sites, apps, and games, or time-block them during focused hours.

Bypass-protection options can block common circumvention paths like Tor and many VPN/proxy routes.

Time-based blocking adds friction when you or your kids need focus.

Updated malware, spyware, and adult-content blocklists work in the background.

Use one baseline profile for home plus stricter profiles for child devices.

Block by category: set broad content boundaries by topic for your whole household. Click image to enlarge.
Block by site: target specific sites, app domains, or game services when needed. Click image to enlarge.
Bypass protection: block common methods used to sidestep DNS rules. Click image to enlarge.

A quick example

Category blocking is your broad safety net, while block-by-site lets you be precise. If one specific app, game, or website is creating problems, you can block just that target without over-restricting everything else.

You can also time-block these distractions to support your own productivity goals and establish healthy limits for children. It is a practical way to enforce boundaries with less daily arguing and less willpower fatigue.

To make limits stick, bypass-protection features can block many common workarounds, including Tor pathways, many VPN endpoints, and other proxy-style circumvention methods. That helps keep household rules enforceable instead of optional.

FAQ

Do I need to be technical to benefit from NextDNS?

Not really. Most people only use a small set of features: malware blocking, category filters, and basic logs. You can start simple and get value right away, then refine later.

Is this only for families with kids?

No. Parents use it for family protection, but adults also use it to add friction to distractions and make focused work blocks easier to keep.

Will this replace antivirus or all security tools?

No. NextDNS is an early network filter, not a full endpoint security suite. It helps prevent risky connections before they load, but it should complement normal security hygiene.

Can this be tailored to our values and household rhythms?

Yes. You can tune category strictness, block specific sites, and set schedules to reduce distractions during school, prayer, family time, or focused work.