🏠 Home Fortress
Secure Your Entire Network
Transform your home network into a fortress. Learn to monitor every device, block threats at the router level, and protect your entire household with network-wide security.
Why Network-Level Security?
Securing individual devices is important, but protecting your entire network is transformative. Network-level security means every device—phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, IoT devices—is protected automatically.
This guide focuses on turning your home network into a fortress that blocks threats before they reach your devices.
✅ What You'll Achieve
- Block ads, trackers, and malware across all devices automatically
- Monitor every device on your network in real-time
- Segment your network for better security and performance
- Protect IoT devices that can't run security software
- See exactly what data your devices are sending
Set Up Pi-hole for Network-Wide Blocking
Time: 1-2 hours | Cost: $35-50 (Raspberry Pi)
Pi-hole is a network-wide ad blocker that acts as a DNS sinkhole. It blocks ads, trackers, and malicious domains for every device on your network—even devices that don't support ad blockers.
What You Need
Raspberry Pi 4
$35-452GB RAM minimum, 4GB recommended. Includes power supply and microSD card.
Alternative: Docker
FreeRun Pi-hole in a Docker container on existing computer. No Raspberry Pi needed.
Alternative: VM
FreeRun Pi-hole in a virtual machine. Works on Windows, Mac, or Linux.
Installation Steps
- Download Raspberry Pi OS Lite - From raspberrypi.com/software
- Flash to microSD card - Use Raspberry Pi Imager
- Boot Raspberry Pi - Connect ethernet cable and power
- Find Pi's IP address - Check your router's connected devices
- SSH into Pi - Use Terminal (Mac/Linux) or PuTTY (Windows)
- Run Pi-hole installer -
curl -sSL https://install.pi-hole.net | bash - Follow setup wizard - Choose default options
- Note admin password - Shown at end of installation
Configure Your Router
- Log into router admin panel - Usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1
- Find DHCP/DNS settings - Different for each router
- Set primary DNS to Pi-hole IP - Example: 192.168.1.100
- Leave secondary DNS blank - Or set to Pi-hole IP as well
- Save and reboot router - Changes take effect immediately
💡 What Pi-hole Blocks
- Ads - YouTube, websites, mobile apps (network-wide)
- Trackers - Analytics, fingerprinting, behavioral tracking
- Malware domains - Known phishing and malware sites
- Telemetry - Windows, smart TVs, IoT devices "phoning home"
- Crypto miners - Websites that mine cryptocurrency using your CPU
Recommended Blocklists
- Default lists - Already included, block ~100k domains
- OISD - Comprehensive list, blocks ads + malware
- Hagezi - Multi-level lists (normal, pro, ultimate)
- 1Hosts - Aggressive blocking, may break some sites
💡 Pro Tip: Use Ethernet for Pi-hole
Connect your Raspberry Pi via ethernet, not WiFi. DNS queries happen constantly, and ethernet ensures Pi-hole is always available with minimal latency. WiFi can be unreliable for critical network infrastructure.
Harden Your Router
Time: 30 minutes | Cost: Free
Your router is the gateway to your entire network. A compromised router means everything behind it is vulnerable.
Router Security Checklist
- Change default admin password - Use password manager to generate strong one
- Update firmware - Check for updates monthly, enable auto-update if available
- Disable WPS - WiFi Protected Setup is convenient but insecure
- Enable WPA3 - Or WPA2 if WPA3 isn't supported
- Disable remote management - No access from internet
- Disable UPnP - Universal Plug and Play can be exploited
- Change default SSID - Don't broadcast router model
- Enable firewall - Should be on by default, verify it's active
💡 Consider Upgrading Your Router
If your router is more than 3-4 years old, consider upgrading to one with better security features:
- WPA3 support - Latest WiFi security standard
- Automatic firmware updates - Stays patched without manual intervention
- Guest network isolation - Separate network for visitors and IoT
- VLANs - Network segmentation for advanced users
Monitor Your Network
Time: 15 minutes setup, 5 min/week ongoing | Cost: Free
You can't protect what you can't see. Network monitoring shows you every device and what they're doing.
What to Monitor
- Connected devices - Know every device on your network
- DNS queries - See what domains devices are contacting (Pi-hole dashboard)
- Bandwidth usage - Identify devices using excessive data
- New device alerts - Get notified when unknown devices connect
Weekly Monitoring Routine
- Check Pi-hole dashboard - Review blocked queries and top domains
- Scan network with Fing - Identify all connected devices
- Review router logs - Look for failed login attempts or unusual activity
- Verify device count - Make sure no unknown devices are connected
Secure IoT Devices
Time: 1 hour | Cost: Free
Smart home devices are notoriously insecure. They can't run antivirus, often have default passwords, and rarely get security updates.
IoT Security Best Practices
- Separate network - Put IoT devices on guest network, isolated from main network
- Change default passwords - Every IoT device, no exceptions
- Disable unnecessary features - Remote access, voice control if not needed
- Update firmware - Check manufacturer website for updates
- Review permissions - Mobile apps often request excessive permissions
- Use ethernet when possible - Smart TVs, game consoles, NAS should be wired
High-Risk IoT Devices
- Security cameras - Can be accessed by hackers, used for surveillance
- Smart locks - Physical security risk if compromised
- Baby monitors - Privacy nightmare if hacked
- Smart speakers - Always listening, privacy concerns
- Smart TVs - Track viewing habits, often have cameras/mics
💡 Network Segmentation Strategy
Create 3 separate networks:
- Main network - Your personal devices (phones, laptops, tablets)
- IoT network - Smart home devices, cameras, speakers
- Guest network - Visitors and untrusted devices
This way, if an IoT device is compromised, it can't access your personal devices or data.
Maintenance Schedule
Weekly
- Check Pi-hole dashboard for blocked queries and top domains
- Scan network with Fing to identify all connected devices
- Review router logs for unusual activity
- Verify device count matches expected number
Monthly
- Update Pi-hole and blocklists
- Check router firmware for updates
- Review and update IoT device passwords
- Audit devices on each network segment
- Test Pi-hole failover (what happens if it goes down?)
Quarterly
- Full network security audit
- Review and update router security settings
- Check for IoT device firmware updates
- Reassess network segmentation strategy
- Test disaster recovery (backup Pi-hole config)
💡 What You're Protected Against Now
- ✅ Ads and trackers - Blocked network-wide on all devices
- ✅ Malware domains - Pi-hole blocks known malicious sites
- ✅ IoT vulnerabilities - Isolated on separate network
- ✅ Unauthorized access - Router hardening prevents intrusion
- ✅ Data exfiltration - Network monitoring detects suspicious traffic
🎉 Your Home Network Is Now a Fortress
Every device is protected automatically. Ready to level up even more?
Next: Power User Defense → View All Guides