Question for the group on a problem I’m trying to solve: How can I block internet access for some apps on standard, OOTB Android?
My current set-up is to use Proton VPN with the Android settings “Always-on VPN” and “Block connections without VPN” and then use Proton VPN’s Split-tunneling to exclude certain apps from using the VPN. This has the desired effect of blocking certain apps from having access to the internet.
However, I now find that I need to use certain Apps without the VPN but with internet access. In the past, I’d used something like NetGuard to control which apps have internet access, but, as Android only allows one VPN slot, this would require me to swap out Proton VPN.
So my problem statement: I’d like to be able to continue to use Proton VPN, exclude some apps from using that VPN but still have access to the internet, and block still other apps from the internet entirely. I’m struggling to find a way to do this.
Any suggestions are welcome!
You can do this. But you need to use rethinkdns and download the configuration of the proton vpn wireguard server(s) you wanna reach. You can have internet blocked for individual apps, have some tunnel without VPN but DNS and firewall protection and some go through servers of proton (even per app to different servers). It’s a powerful tool. You won’t get the same protection as you would get with let’s say GrapheneOS but you are getting damn close to it if done right
Rethinkdns is probably your best bet! Right now they are missing an important feature where It takes wireguard’s DNS configuration into account, making it obsolete for those who have private dns in a local environnement with an upstream dns !
Can’t wait for version 0.5.6 😄
If you’re interested in that level of control, it’s time to look hard at GrapheneOS. “Internet” is a permission you can grant or deny for each app, under GrapheneOS.
But I’m not aware of a way to selectively direct phone traffic through Proton VPN, at the phone. Even on GrapheneOS.
Enough skill with an expensive router could do it, but only on your home network, or only while routing all of your phone traffic back to your home network via yet another VPN.
Edit: TIL, Proton VPN supports split tunneling. Sweet! Look under Settings - Advanced - Split Tunneling - then pick your apps to include/exclude.
Edit 2: TIL DivestOS also supports “Internet” as a per app Permission. Very cool.
DivestOS can also deny internet access, for the people who don’t have a Pixel
I’ve been suspecting I’d need GrapheneOS for a while now. Might finally be time to jump.
You can route traffic through VPN on the phone, then just use split tunneling to exclude apps that should have regular network access without VPN. But you have to switch off “Block connections without VPN” in settings.
Oh hey, thanks! I never particularly wanted any of my apps to route around the VPN, but there the option it is under Advanced, when split tunneling is enabled. Could be handy. Thanks!
The apps you want to block entirely, you can go into Android settings for each of them individually, and turn off all their Mobile Data & WiFi access options.
Apps that you want to allow outside Proton VPN, you can add to the Split Tunneling list in Proton VPN. But you have to turn off the Block Without VPN option.
It sounds like that’ll get you what you want.
Just a note: The app ‘Rethink DNS and Firewall’ can do this with any Wireguard VPN.
You need root for that. This is trivial with root.
If you don’t want to patch with Magisk, look at KernelSU
