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!

  • Decentralizr@lemmy.world
    10·
    11 months ago

    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

    • deepdive@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      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 😄

    • Monkey With A Shell@lemmy.socdojo.com
      1·
      11 months ago

      Interesting idea, a DNS filter won’t do much for traffic pointed at a specific IP though. Curious how that would set the system wide DNS without being a root level app.

  • MajorHavoc@lemmy.world
    8·
    11 months ago

    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.

      • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
        31·
        11 months ago

        DivestOS seems to give a nice balance between vanilla Android and Graphene. I really like it.

    • starlord@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      3·
      11 months ago

      I’ve been suspecting I’d need GrapheneOS for a while now. Might finally be time to jump.

      • föderal umdrehen@feddit.de
        1·
        11 months ago

        CalyxOS runs on a similar set of devices, is free, and does include a firewall app too. I still run Netguard, but that’s mostly for ad-blocking.

    • theDutchBrother@lemmy.world
      2·
      11 months ago

      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.

      • MajorHavoc@lemmy.world
        2·
        11 months ago

        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!

        • theDutchBrother@lemmy.world
          2·
          11 months ago

          NP. Yeah I only routed Tor browser around the VPN in the past to not slow it down too much but I hardly use Tor anymore so VPN routes everything now.

  • Steve@communick.newsEnglish
    5·
    11 months ago

    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.

    • starlord@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      3·
      11 months ago

      Yeah, I’ve seen this before but I just apparently don’t have that option. All I have is “Mobile Data” which appears to leak a little despite being turned off…

  • _s10e@feddit.de
    4·
    11 months ago

    Just a note: The app ‘Rethink DNS and Firewall’ can do this with any Wireguard VPN.

  • wincing_nucleus073@lemm.ee
    2·
    11 months ago

    it seems like you merely need to disable the “Block connections without VPN”.

    Then in your android settings there should be a toggle to deny network access to certain apps in the android permission settings. so the apps that are split tunneled you can just deny or allow network

  • lemmydripzdotz123@lemmy.world
    2·
    11 months ago

    It can’t be used with ProtonVPN (I assume) but I use NoRoot Firewall for exactly this purpose. It works by setting up a VPN and letting you enable / disable network access for each app, including system apps. It can also block on just WiFi or just cell data or both or neither. It blocks all apps by default until you configure their access. You can also setup more advanced rules for all apps or just some apps. For instance, you can set it where an app can contact AppCompany.com but not Google.com