Internet Filters

[GenMarshall]

Are there any internet filters online that would work along with MSN or IE to block certan websites?

Im looking for a program that will enable you to add in websites manualy and automadicly sends you an 404 message page when you enter the site.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

Use the 'HOSTS' file that's part of windows.

You just have to add a line for each site you want to block:
127.0.0.1 www.website-you-want-to-block.com
And you won't be able to connect, it works with every browser.

About the hosts file

 

[Souron]

In IE look under "Tools>Internet options"

Click the "Security" tag.
Click on "Restricted Sites"
Click the "Sites" Button.
Add whatever you wish.

 

[Jeratain]

Use the 'HOSTS' file that's part of windows.

You just have to add a line for each site you want to block:
127.0.0.1 www.website-you-want-to-block.com
And you won't be able to connect, it works with every browser.

About the hosts file

What he said.

Check out the attached file for a bunch of sites you will want to add to your HOSTS file to block ads, AIM ads (including those ****ing annoying audio ads) and certain websites.

 

[zurichuk]

so how does the host file work in this instance, is it by creating an illegal alias?

mine has this in it for 127.0.0.1 (and my host file is not a text file)
127.0.0.1 localhost loopback

and also 100's of other entries but none of them are 127.0.0.1

 

[Grisu]

so how does the host file work in this instance, is it by creating an illegal alias?

mine has this in it for 127.0.0.1 (and my host file is not a text file)
127.0.0.1 localhost loopback

and also 100's of other entries but none of them are 127.0.0.1

exactly, the hosts file is basically a tiny local DNS. it translates the URI into the IP-Address. 127.0.0.1 is the local loopback address of your own machine. since most people are not running a webserver on their machines they get a 404 Message for every site that points to 127.0.0.1

 

[zurichuk]

that's cleared it up for me, merci vielmal

 

[Dell19]

In IE look under "Tools>Internet options"

Click the "Security" tag.
Click on "Restricted Sites"
Click the "Sites" Button.
Add whatever you wish.

That doesn't actually bock sites it just stops you from logging in, assuming that we are talking about blocking a forum here...

 

[crystal]

Use the 'HOSTS' file that's part of windows.

You just have to add a line for each site you want to block:
127.0.0.1 www.website-you-want-to-block.com
And you won't be able to connect, it works with every browser.

About the hosts file

Err... that doesn't block a thing if you instead enter www.website-you-want-to-block.com's ip address on the browser. Also it shouldn't block dns queries because they go to different server.

A lot better way would be using a firewall to filter urls, for example Kerio Personal Firewall comes with web filtering.

 

[Grisu]

that's cleared it up for me, merci vielmal

gärn gscheh

it's funny until now I thought your nickname was zuri-chuck

 

[zurichuk]

actually my nickname everywhere else is just chuk (Confoederatio Helvetica United Kingdom, but that had already gone here so i added zuri at the beginning as that was where I was living for many many years and will return to

better put something on-topic now to keep the powers that be happy, erm

Found some info on the host file internet blocking here

 

[funxus]

So, if it redirects the page to localhost and I don't have a webserver, it will pop up a message saying that it can't connect (in FireFox). Wouldn't it then be better to have a webserver on the computer that just answers with a blank HTML-file? Does anyone know of a good and free webserver that can be used? Not MS PWS, it doesn't work in XP...

 

[Grisu]

well apache ain't bad, but I think it would be a bit overkill to install apache just for that. I'll have a look, I think I once had a lightweight webserver....

 

[Crazy Eddie]

Err... that doesn't block a thing if you instead enter www.website-you-want-to-block.com's ip address on the browser. Also it shouldn't block dns queries because they go to different server.

Well, it does only work with named adresses, numerical IP's are handled differantly as you say. But on the other hand: it's free, it's simple, it dosn't take up any system resources, it works with every progam that tries to connect to the net, and it still works even if the website you want to block changes it's IP.

 

[Grisu]

Does anyone know of a good and free webserver that can be used? Not MS PWS, it doesn't work in XP...

... found it Abyss Web Server it's pretty small (only 135kb install-file)

 

[hbdragon88]

What he said.

Check out the attached file for a bunch of sites you will want to add to your HOSTS file to block ads, AIM ads (including those ****ing annoying audio ads) and certain websites.

Ooh thanks, now I know a lot more about sites. For example, when I was cleaning out my dad's cookies, he had like 20 sextracker cookies, and I wonderered if he was on porn sites or something. And I can now see the huge extent that advertisers use to serve up ads - thousands and thousands of servers.

 

[Sodapop]

Great, so does that mean we're finally getting rid of you?

Obviously a ban wasn't enough...

 

[Jeratain]

(and my host file is not a text file)

Yeah, it's not a text file - I thought that was obvious, but I should have specified in my post that the file just contains sample information from a HOSTS file.

 

[funxus]

... found it Abyss Web Server it's pretty small (only 135kb install-file)

Thanks, but I've already downloaded and installed Apache, and I've got it working. It seems hard to set up, but I found the Document Root, so every time I connect to localhost the title now says "this page is blocked", and the page itself is white.

 

[Souron]

That doesn't actually bock sites it just stops you from logging in, assuming that we are talking about blocking a forum here...

We're talking about blocking forums?