Since Australia's social media ban for under-16s came into effect in December 2025, parents are paying more attention to what their kids can access online. But here's something most don't realise: your home WiFi router probably isn't blocking anything at all.
The uncomfortable truth
Unless you’ve specifically changed your router settings, adult content loads just fine on every device in your house. Phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs - anything connected to your WiFi.
Your internet provider (Telstra, Aussie Broadband, TPG, whoever) doesn’t set this up for you. It’s not their job. It’s yours.
The good news? There’s a free fix that takes 5 minutes.
What is DNS filtering?
DNS is like a phone book for the internet. When you type a website address, DNS looks up where to send you.
By default, your home uses whatever DNS your internet provider gives you - and that doesn’t filter anything.
But you can change it to a free service that refuses to look up adult sites at all. The website simply won’t load.
The free DNS numbers to use
Primary DNS: 185.228.168.168
Secondary DNS: 185.228.169.168
Blocks: Adult content, pornography, malware, phishing sites
These numbers work with any Australian ISP - Telstra, Aussie Broadband, TPG, iiNet, Optus, or anyone else.
How to set it up (step by step)
Step 1: Find your router’s address
Open a web browser and try one of these addresses:
192.168.0.1(most common)192.168.1.110.0.0.110.1.1.1
If none work, check the sticker on your router - it usually shows the admin address.
Step 2: Log in to your router
The default username and password are usually printed on a sticker on your router. Common defaults:
- Username:
adminPassword:admin - Username:
adminPassword:password - Username: (blank) Password:
admin
If you’ve changed these and forgotten them, you may need to reset your router.
Step 3: Find DNS settings
Look for something called:
- DNS Settings
- Internet Settings → DNS
- WAN Settings → DNS
- DHCP Settings → DNS
It varies by router brand (Netgear, TP-Link, ASUS, etc.)
Step 4: Change to manual DNS
You’ll see fields for “Primary DNS” and “Secondary DNS”.
Change from “Automatic” or “Get from ISP” to “Manual” and enter:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary DNS | 185.228.168.168 |
| Secondary DNS | 185.228.169.168 |
Step 5: Save and restart
Click Save or Apply, then restart your router. Wait a minute for it to come back up.
Done. Every device on your WiFi now has basic adult content filtering.
Test if it’s working
After setting it up, visit this test page on any device connected to your WiFi:
If it says “You are using CleanBrowsing” - your filtering is active.
What this protects
- Every phone, tablet, and laptop on your WiFi
- Smart TVs and streaming devices
- Gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo)
- Any guest devices that connect
What this doesn’t protect
- Mobile data (4G/5G) - When kids switch off WiFi
- VPNs - These route around your home network entirely
- Apple iCloud Private Relay - On by default on newer iPhones, routes Safari traffic around your DNS
- School/work networks - Different network, different rules
This is why DNS filtering is a first layer, not a complete solution. It catches casual access but tech-savvy kids can find workarounds.
About Apple Private Relay
If your kids have iPhones or iPads, Apple has a feature called iCloud Private Relay that routes Safari web traffic around your home DNS filtering. It’s enabled by default on iOS 15+.
To disable it:
- Go to Settings → Your name (Apple ID) → iCloud
- Tap Private Relay
- Turn it Off
This is one of the things I check during a home visit.
Want someone to check your setup?
DNS filtering is a good start, but there’s a lot more that can bypass your protection. iPhones, VPNs, mobile data, apps that use their own connections…
If you want certainty about what’s actually protected in your home, that’s what I do.
Family Network Health Check - $79
50% off launch price (normally $159) until 28 February 2026
- Check if your DNS filtering is actually working
- Identify devices bypassing your protection
- Review Apple Private Relay and VPN settings
- Test your parental controls across all devices
- Plain English explanation of what's protected and what isn't
- Written summary you can refer back to
Book a Health Check or call 0489 998 445
Common questions
Will this slow down my internet? No. DNS filtering has zero impact on speed. You’re just using a different “phone book” for looking up websites.
Does this work with my ISP? Yes. CleanBrowsing works with all Australian ISPs - Telstra, Aussie Broadband, TPG, Optus, iiNet, and everyone else.
What if I can’t find my router settings? DM me on Facebook or Instagram with your router brand and I’ll point you in the right direction.
Is this the same as the screen time controls on my phone? No. Screen time controls are device-specific. DNS filtering works at the network level - it covers every device on your WiFi automatically.
What about the new social media ban? The under-16 social media ban (December 2025) blocks kids from creating accounts on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. DNS filtering is different - it blocks adult content websites. Both are layers of protection, but they do different things.
Serving Geelong, Surf Coast, and Bellarine Peninsula.
Why Oh WiFi - 0489 998 445 - hello@whyohwifi.com.au