> Using a VPN is a responsible, respectful, and safe way to access your Pi-hole's capabilities remotely. Setting up a DNS server has become a simple task with Pi-hole's automated installer, which has resulted in many people knowingly--or unknowingly--creating an open resolver, which aids in DNS Amplification Attacks.
> We do not encourage open resolvers but there are always people wanting access to their ad-blocking capabilities outside of their home network, whether it's on their cellular network or on an unsecured wireless network. This article aims to provide a step-by-step walk-through on setting up a server running Pi-hole and OpenVPN so you can connect to your Pi-hole's DNS from anywhere. This guide should work for a private server installed on your private network, but it will also work for cloud servers, such as those created on Digital Ocean.
I personally used to have setup a VPN with tailscale following their article [1]. Basically all my internet traffic is redirected back to the pi and therefore takes advantage of the pi-hole.
as i get older the number of services i want to operate locally dwindle. nextdns does a great job, has a number of great implementations that prevent fall through, and works for the entire family regardless of whether or not they're on the local network. great product, great team.
