Here's Article 16:
Title: What is NextDNS and What Does it Do?
Category: Managed Firewall
Available on Standard and Pro plans
If you're on the Standard or Pro plan, your LanClub service includes a managed firewall powered by NextDNS. This article explains what NextDNS is, how it protects you, and what it means for your day to day browsing.
What is NextDNS?
NextDNS is a DNS-level firewall and content filter that protects every device connected to your home network. It works by filtering your internet traffic at the DNS level — which is essentially the address book of the internet — before anything even loads on your screen.
Think of it like a security guard standing at the entrance to your home network, checking every website request before it's allowed through.
What is DNS?
Every time you visit a website, your computer sends a request to a DNS server asking "what is the address for this website?" The DNS server looks it up and sends your browser to the right place.
By routing your DNS requests through NextDNS, LanClub can intercept requests to known malicious, harmful, or unwanted websites and block them before your browser ever connects.
What Does NextDNS Block?
NextDNS is configured by LanClub to block a range of threats and unwanted content including:
- Malware and phishing sites — websites designed to steal your information or install viruses
- Ransomware domains — sites used by ransomware to communicate and spread
- Tracking and data harvesting — websites and scripts that follow you around the internet collecting your data
- Advertising networks — reduces the number of ads you see across websites and apps
- Cryptojacking — websites that secretly use your computer's processing power to mine cryptocurrency
How is it Configured?
LanClub sets up a NextDNS profile specifically for your household during onboarding. During the setup process we'll ask you about your preferences — for example whether you'd like stricter content filtering for younger family members.
Your NextDNS profile is applied at your router level, which means it protects every device on your home network — computers, phones, tablets, smart TVs, and more — without needing to install anything on each device individually.
What Does it Feel Like?
For the most part you won't notice NextDNS at all — it works silently in the background. The main things you might notice are:
- Fewer ads on websites and apps
- Faster browsing in some cases, as blocked content doesn't need to load
- Occasional blocked pages if a site you're trying to visit is flagged — see below
What if a Website I Need is Being Blocked?
Occasionally a legitimate website may be blocked if it matches a filtering rule. This is easy to fix — see our Why is a Website Being Blocked? article for steps to request an unblock.
Does NextDNS Work Outside My Home?
NextDNS is configured at your router, so it protects devices while they're connected to your home WiFi. When you take your laptop or phone outside your home and connect to a different network, NextDNS protection won't apply.
For protection on the go, you can install the NextDNS app on your phone or laptop — email help@lanclub.nz and we can help you set this up.
Questions?
If you have any questions about your NextDNS setup or what's being filtered on your network, submit a ticket at https://help.lanclub.nz or email help@lanclub.nz and we'll be happy to help.