Many occupations, hobbies, and educational pursuits require sharpened focus and the internet—two things that don’t usually go together. Searching for sources to write a research paper, for instance, could devolve into an hours-long Wikipedia rabbit hole, or you may find yourself revisiting social media every 10 minutes.
If you need to maintain focus, Control D forces you to stay on task. This DNS service can help boost productivity during work or study, and five-year subscriptions are on sale for $39.99, down from $120.
Control D is a simple tool that can significantly impact your efficiency. It features 15 filters (block lists), that prevent users from accessing content they don’t want to see, including shopping websites like Amazon or Etsy or time-wasters like Reddit, Netflix, and games. But if you want to outsource your needs, Control D also supports third-party block lists such as 1Hosts-Pro, Dev Dan’s Hosts, Energized-Ultimate, Notracking Hosts, OISD-Full, and StevenBlack Unified.
Your computer likely isn’t the only device distracting you. With Control D, you can enforce your block lists on up to 10 devices, so your phone won’t create a pesky diversion. In addition, make schedules for when you plan on working or studying throughout the day, reminding you to stay busy when needed. Control D helps enforce 10,000 custom rules and block more than 300 services; users can even create unique browsing profiles for each device.
Speaking of which, if you have kids, you can tailor their device profiles to limit their social media time or keep them safe from potentially harmful content. Another benefit comes in the form of ad blocking; by implementing specific block lists, fewer ads may pop up on your screen, allowing you to browse the web faster and with better focus.
Improving productivity online requires the breaking of bad habits. If you check your phone or personal emails too often, Control D can make those poor decisions downright impossible. PCMag readers can get a five-year subscription to Control D for $39.99—66 percent off the $120 MSRP.
Prices subject to change.
