Maintenance

A good Control D setup should be reviewed occasionally, not constantly rebuilt.

Review filters and rules periodically

Every few weeks or months, check:

  • Enabled filters
  • Custom allowlist entries
  • Denylist entries
  • Imported folders
  • Device assignments
  • Profiles no longer in use

Remove stale or unnecessary rules.

Keep changes deliberate

When changing anything, do it one step at a time.

Recommended order:

  1. Change only one filter or rule
  2. Test the profile normally
  3. Record the result
  4. Keep or revert based on the outcome

This is the easiest way to maintain a stable setup.

Watch for signs of overblocking

Common warning signs include:

  • Frequent exception requests
  • Unexpected website failures
  • Apps failing after a filter update
  • Family members reporting problems with otherwise normal browsing
  • Not knowing which filter caused the issue

If a setup becomes hard to understand, simplify it.

Keep backup notes

It helps to keep copies of your important rules in a simple document or repository.

This makes it easier to:

  • Rebuild a profile
  • Compare versions
  • Move rules to a new device
  • Audit exceptions
  • Recover from mistakes

The goal

The goal is not to block everything.

The goal is to create a DNS setup that improves privacy and security while keeping the internet usable and maintainable.