CONTROL D · COMMUNITY GUIDE

A practical Control D
setup guide.

Notes from running Control D day to day: how I set it up, pick filters, use Hagezi without overdoing it, and fix things when a site breaks.

Start here → Cheat sheet

✓ Keep it simple  ·  Test before you stack filters  ·  Prefer small exceptions

Control D Guide illustration
◒Balancednot “block everything”
✦Hands-onwhat I’ve actually used
↗Maintainableeasy to debug later

HOW I THINK ABOUT IT

Protection that stays out of the way.

I am not trying to block the most domains possible. I want better privacy and fewer ads or threats, while the sites and apps I use every day still work.

◎01

Start with a sane profile

Basic or Balanced first. Hardened can wait until you know what you are trading away.

Profiles → ◈02

Don’t stack every filter

A couple of trusted lists beat turning everything on and spending a week allowlisting.

Filters → ✳03

Hagezi, carefully

Pick one list level, try it, then add narrow exceptions only when something real breaks.

Hagezi notes →

FIRST SESSION

Get one setup working, then expand.

You do not need to configure every device on day one. One profile and one endpoint is enough to learn from.

  1. 1
    Create a profileKeep the first policy small.
  2. 2
    Add one deviceConfirm it before rolling out further.
  3. 3
    Live with it a few daysUse the query log when something fails.
  4. 4
    Fix the smallest thingOne allow rule beats disabling a whole filter.

PAGES

What is in this guide.

Setup, profiles, rules, and what to do when a page or app misbehaves.

01Getting Started → 02Profiles and Devices → 03Custom Rules → 04Troubleshooting → 05Maintenance →

Independent community guide · Official Control D docs for current product details.