Defending the Internet, One Domain at a Time

In this episode of The Defender’s Log, host David Redekop sits down with Peter Lowe, the creator and maintainer of one of the internet’s most widely used blocklists, a resource quietly protecting users for over 27 years.

What started as a personal effort to block intrusive ads has evolved into a critical layer of modern cybersecurity infrastructure. Peter shares the technical, ethical, and human realities of maintaining a blocklist at internet scale, from DNS-based blocking and privacy challenges to dealing with criticism, threats, and constant technological change.

The conversation also explores unexpected territory: how language, culture, and communication shape security, why defaults in operating systems matter more than most users realize, and how Apple, Microsoft, and modern platforms influence privacy at scale.

This episode isn’t just about blocking domains; it’s about trust, responsibility, and defending the open internet without owning it.