How to Block a Website

Edited 4 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

WebsiteInternetSecurityPrivacyToolsOnline SafetyBrowserParental ControlAccess

Blocking a website may be necessary for a variety of reasons, whether it's for fault control, network security, or to restrict access to specific content. Here, we'll explore different ways to block a website using different technologies and platforms. These methods will cover steps for different operating systems, web browsers, and network-level interventions. Let's go through each method in detail:

1. Blocking a website using the hosts file (Windows)

The hosts file is a system file that translates domain names into IP addresses. By editing this file, you can block a specific website on your computer.

Step:

1. Open Notepad as administrator: Search for Notepad in the Start menu, right-click, and select "Run as administrator."
2. Go to the hosts file at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.
3. Add the website URL you want to block. For example, to block Facebook, add the following line to the hosts file:
   

   127.0.0.1 www.facebook.com

   To block any website, enter the URL you want to block in place of www.facebook.com.
4. Save the changes to the hosts file. If prompted for administrator privileges, accept them.
5. Flush your DNS cache: Open Command Prompt as administrator and run the following command:
   

   ipconfig /flushdns

2. Block a website using the hosts file (Mac)

The process for blocking a website on a Mac is similar to Windows, but it requires using the Terminal.

Step:

1. Open the Terminal application.
2. Open the hosts file by typing the following:
   

   sudo nano /etc/hosts

3. Enter your password if prompted.
4. Add the website URL you want to block. For example, to block Facebook, add the following line:
   

   127.0.0.1 www.facebook.com

5. Press Control + O to save the changes and Control + X to exit the editor.
6. Type the following to flush your DNS cache:
   

   sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

3. Using parental controls on Windows

Windows provides built-in parental controls to block particular websites for a user account.

Step:

1. Open the Settings app by pressing Win + I
2. Go to "Accounts" and select "Family & other users."
3. Set up a child account by clicking "Add family member" and following the instructions.
4. Once your child's account is set up, go to the Microsoft Family Safety website and log in with your account.
5. Select the child's account, then go to the "Web Browsing" section.
6. Enable "Block inappropriate websites" and add specific websites to the blocked list.

4. Blocking websites on the router

You can configure your router to block websites on all devices connected to your network.

Step:

1. Access your router's admin panel: This usually involves entering your router's IP address (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) into a web browser.
2. Log in with the admin username and password. These are often found on a sticker on the router. Common defaults are "admin/admin" or "admin/password", but it's advisable to change these.
3. Go to the website blocking or filtering section. This may be under the "Parental Controls", "Access Restrictions" or "Firewall" settings, depending on your router's model.
4. Enter the URL of the website you want to block. Some routers require you to set a time rule, but you can usually set it to block the website 24/7.
5. Save the settings and restart your router if necessary.

5. Using browser extensions

Many web browsers offer extensions or add-ons to block websites.

Google Chrome:

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store.
2. Search for “BlockSite” and add the extension to Chrome.
3. Click on the BlockSite icon in the toolbar and go to Settings.
4. Add the URL of the website you want to block.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Visit the Firefox Add-ons page.
2. Search for "BlockSite" and add the extension to Firefox.
3. Click on the BlockSite icon in the toolbar and go to Settings.
4. Add the URL of the website you want to block.

Microsoft Edge:

1. Go to the Microsoft Edge add-ons page.
2. Search for “BlockSite” and add the extension to Edge.
3. Click on the BlockSite icon in the toolbar and go to Settings.
4. Add the URL of the website you want to block.

6. Blocking websites using third party software

There are many third-party applications designed to block websites. These applications offer more control and features than the built-in tools.

Example:

1. Cold turkey:

1. Download and install Cold Turkey from their website.
2. Open the Cold Turkey application and go to the Blocklist tab.
3. Create a new block list and add the websites you want to block.
4. Set the schedule or time you want the block to be active.

2. Net Nanny:

1. Download and install Net Nanny.
2. Create a Net Nanny account and log in.
3. Go to Family Feed and select the profile you want to modify.
4. Go to Parental Controls and select "Web Filtering."
5. Add the websites you want to block under "Blocked Sites."

7. Using DNS services to block websites

DNS services can be set to block specific content or websites. OpenDNS is a popular choice for this purpose.

Step:

1. Sign up for an OpenDNS account on their website.
2. Configure your device or router to use OpenDNS by setting the DNS addresses to 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220.
3. Log into your OpenDNS account and go to the dashboard.
4. Select your network or add a new network.
5. Go to the Web Content Filtering section.
6. Choose a filter level or add specific websites to block.

8. Block a website using group policy (Windows)

Windows Group Policy allows administrators to block websites for all users of a computer or network.

Step:

1. Open the Group Policy Editor by typing gpedit.msc in the Run dialog (Win + R).
2. Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer > Internet Control Panel > Security Page.
3. Double-click on "Site to Zone Assignment List" and enable it.
4. Click "Show..." to add a new website.
5. Enter the URL of the website and set the value to "2" to block it.

9. Blocking websites on mobile devices

The process for blocking a website on a mobile device varies depending on the operating system.

iOS (iPhone/iPad):

1. Open the Settings app and go to “Screen Time.”
2. Tap "Content & Privacy Restrictions" and enable it.
3. Go to "Content Restrictions" > "Web Content."
4. Select "Limit Adult Websites" and add specific URLs under "Never Allow."

Android:

1. Open the Google Family Link app.
2. Select the child's account and go to the "Manage Settings" section.
3. Under "Controls on Google Play," go to "Filters on Google Chrome."
4. Enable "Try to block explicit sites" and add specific URLs under "Manage sites."

10. Using a network-level firewall

Network-level firewalls provide robust solutions for blocking websites across an entire network.

Step:

1. Access to the firewall's management interface, often via a web browser.
2. Log in with an administrator account.
3. Go to the "URL Filtering" or "Content Blocking" section.
4. Add the URLs of the websites you want to block.
5. Apply the changes and restart the firewall if necessary.

Conclusion

Blocking a website can be achieved in a variety of ways, depending on the level of control and scope you require. While each method has its own advantages and specific use cases, combining several methods can provide a more comprehensive solution. Make sure you choose the method that best suits your needs and technical comfort level.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update