[orkj]

Does something like this exist for my phone, android specifically? Any good recommendations?

[supriyo-biswas]

There's netguard[1], although most of the convenience features are behind a small payment.

[1] https://netguard.me

[cam_l]

I have heard good things about this one. But i think this one of those no root firewalls that uses the vpn, so I figure this means I can't use a VPN at the same time.

An alternative android root only option is afwall+ which allows blocking on lte, WiFi, lan, and VPN separately, and script access to iptables. Not sure how actively developed it is, but it seems to work ok.

*edit: Seems to still be active, open source, and available on fdroid too.

https://github.com/ukanth/afwall

[ggeorgovassilis]

Netguard is fantastic, although it takes a while to get a safe setup working. I'm blocking traffic by default and get to see all the blocked connection attempts - the extent to which apps transmit data to various parties is depressing. Netguard should be a standard OS feature.

[bornfreddy]

I didn't want to pay without testing the features first, so I have rebuilt the app (it is opensource) with Pro enabled, so I guess that's an option if you want to avoid payment. Updates are a problem then though. Once I tested it I gladly paid (more than requested) to support the development. I never got around to reinstalling it though, so I'm still on an older version.

NetGuard is simply awesome. The piece of mind when I know which servers the apps are contacting, and being able to block their access to the net by default, is just great. The rules could be made a bit more easily adjustable (it would be nice if I could block `*.firebaseinstallations.googleapis.com` everywhere, even if other traffic is allowed for the app), but I'm just nitpicking now. Highly recommend it.

[butz]

"Small payment" is an understatement :)

"You can get all current and future NetGuard pro features (including updates) without Google Play services for the GitHub or F-Droid version by a one time donation of € 0.10 or more. If you donate 7 euros or more, you can activate the pro features on all Android devices you personally own, else you can activate the pro features one time only."

[mikae1]

GrapheneOS can at least block internet traffic for specific apps. But can't do it for port ranges or specific domains.

[Joe_Cool]

Sadly all real firewalls need root. I was using AFWall+ for a long time it has neat controls for every app to allow or deny Wifi, Cell or LAN (if you have). It is a iptables/nftables frontend so you can customize the rules to your heart's content: https://github.com/ukanth/afwall Works from Android 2+

Without root only VPN solutions like Adguard are available.

EDIT: if you want neat stats: Glasswire has an Android version. I have only used the beta so I have no idea about its current state. Might be worth checking out though.

[ignoramous]

ex-AOSP and rethink dns+firewall dev here

> Sadly all real firewalls need root

What do you mean by a "real" firewall? It is very much possible to build a userspace firewall in Android using the VPN APIs.

On Android, ROMs like GrapheneOS, Lineage, and CalyxOS have firewalls built-in.

> Glasswire has an Android version

Note though, Glasswire was recently acquired by another company: https://archive.is/KW2R3

[sureglymop]

The app "Rethink: DNS + Firewall + VPN" has similar features.

[arminiusreturns]

I really like Rethink DNS. I have learned many things from watching it (such as I think Signal is compromised by some five-eyes "crossing the border" fuckery.)

[FireInsight]

TrackerControl is great too. Both are FOSS and can be used in the backgroud for using a custom DNS server and blocking certain categories of domains.

[JoosToopit]

AFWall+

Switched to it from NetGuard mentioned above.

[SparkyMcUnicorn]

My non-root solution is to use NextDNS or ControlD with "private DNS" (DNS over TLS).

Doesn't stop direct IP connections, but it's good enough.

I also have the CLI installed on OpnSense so DoH is enforced for all devices on my LAN as well.