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. Here’s something most don’t realise though: I find that the typical home WiFi router isn’t blocking anything at all by default.
That's how long it takes to add basic adult-content filtering across every device on your home WiFi. The setting exists in every router; you just have to switch it on.
Most parents assume their home WiFi already does this. It almost never does. Out of the box, every router in Australia ships with the filter turned off.
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 WiFi Safety - $149
- 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
Learn More or call 0489 998 445
Related reading
- Is your child bypassing your internet filter right now? — How browsers’ Secure DNS quietly defeats this filter
- What parents need to know about Secure DNS — A calmer explainer of the same problem
- Family Network Health Check — The $149 service that audits all the bypass paths
Common questions
Will DNS filtering slow down my internet?+
No — DNS filtering has effectively zero impact on speed. You're just using a different 'phone book' for looking up websites; the actual data still travels the same way.
Does CleanBrowsing work with my ISP?+
Yes. CleanBrowsing's family DNS works with every Australian ISP — Telstra, Aussie Broadband, TPG, Optus, iiNet, Superloop, and the rest. It's set on your router, not your provider.
What if I can't find my router's DNS settings?+
Message me on Facebook or Instagram with your router brand and I'll point you in the right direction. If your router is ISP-locked (some Telstra and Optus modems are), you may need to put it in bridge mode and use your own router behind it.
Is this the same as the Screen Time controls on my phone?+
No. Screen Time controls are per-device and per-app. DNS filtering works at the network level — it automatically covers every device on your WiFi, including smart TVs, consoles and visiting kids' phones, with no per-device setup.
Will this block the social media ban platforms (TikTok, Instagram, etc.)?+
Not by default. The under-16 social media ban (December 2025) is enforced at the platform level — accounts can't be created. DNS filtering is a different layer: it blocks adult content domains. They complement each other.
Can my kids get around DNS filtering?+
Yes — and they often do. Mobile data, VPNs, Apple Private Relay, and 'Secure DNS' (DNS-over-HTTPS) inside browsers all bypass it. DNS filtering catches the casual and accidental stuff. For a teenager who's actively trying, you need additional layers.
Serving Geelong, Surf Coast, and Bellarine Peninsula.
Why Oh WiFi - 0489 998 445 - hello@whyohwifi.com.au