Windows 7/XP/Vista: How to Block Unwanted Sites Without Additional Software

Contributor Icon Contributed by shamanstears Date Icon October 4, 2009  
Tag Icon Tagged: Windows

If you want to keep your youngsters from accessing certain sites, you want to block certain cites due to their content, or if you want to play a mean joke on a co-worker, you can block sites by redirecting them to the computer’s IP address that is used for a loopback network connection.

1. Open Computer (My Computer on Windows XP machines).

2. Browse to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

3. Right-click the hosts file and open it with either Notepad or Wordpad.

4. Scroll to the bottom of the page.

5. Input the following:127.0.0.1       Siteyouwantblocked.com

where siteyouwantblocked.com is the name of the site you wish to block. Press Enter and repeat this step until you have entered all desired sites.

6. Add an extra carriage return by pressing Enter.

7. Save the file.

8. Close Notepad (or Wordpad).

The sites that you have added to the hosts file will now be blocked.

Previous recipe | Next recipe |
 
  • def gonna try this, thanks.
  • thranji
    I tried this mentod in my PC,but it was a failure.
  • citruscyanide
    Same. Does it not work through a proxy? Or what am i doing wrong?
  • ump14
    If you tried it and it didnt work, then you made a mistake along the way.
    I have used this successfully for years; both as a protection scheme and as a general havoc causing issue.
  • rover3500
    It's a well used method.If it doesn't work for u,you're def doing something wrong.Don't forget the 127.0.0.1 at the beginning,and one of the common probs,make sure it's saving when u exit.If it doesn't,right click the hosts file,properties,and make sure read only isn't checked,otherwise it won't save.Put it back after u've saved it,and it prevents any bad software / sites changing the file.Some antivirus and other security progs lock this file
  • Bilal
    wao that was grate i found what i was looking for thx for help.
blog comments powered by Disqus