Blokada: why does the app connect to visit.rebrand.ly?

[mailinglists35]

I'm not confortable with that.

[peterroth]

Which app doed that? I can't see this address in my Activity screen.

[mailinglists35]

android build Blokada 5S

org.blokada.alarm.dnschanger
5.7.0 (507000000)

[mailinglists35]

in settings - apps & notifications also says version 11.9.0-210107

[mailinglists35]

apk https://www.pastefile.com/gm8zc6

[peterroth]

That's just a DNS changer, nothing else. Open source just like any other app variant Blokada has; and it just reports what domains are looked up, Blokada Slim doesn't reach out to such domains.

[mailinglists35]

yes it does. I have installed "noroot firewall" and it reports that android blokada app (only by opening the menus, settings but NOT enabling it, so it cannot even report what domains are looked up, BECAUSE IT IS NOT ALLOWED yet to be a system vpn!!!) attempts to connect to these IP to port 443

52.72.49.79 (visit.rebrand.ly)
172.67.167.56
104.21.11.200

[kar]

All go.blokada.org links we use are a redirector links through rebrandly. The reason we use them is so that we can easily change the destinations without making an update. We use them mostly for forum shortcuts, as well as some other links, like donation page etc.

[peterroth]

Here I stand corrected. Thanks @kar, I wasn't sure go.blokada.org links use rebrandly.

[mailinglists35]

is there any way to disable it? it's quite ironic for an app that tries to protect your privacy to use a data-collecting third party service...

[FRooter]

All go.blokada.org links we use are a redirector links through rebrandly. The reason we use them is so that we can easily change the destinations without making an update. We use them mostly for forum shortcuts, as well as some other links, like donation page etc.

Why not setup the same easy redirect without involving additional third-party entities? e.g., Why not use the same service that hosts the blokada.org website?