Best site blockers

3/21/18 | Self

[Bikkuri]

As a matter of fact, I added a large batch of URLs to my hosts file a couple of days ago on my Win10, a couple of days ago, and am going to do the same on Linux later.

[Paal Gulli]

The hosts file trick is about the least sophisticated blocking you could use and it doesn't work if the kids have even a smattering of tech savvy. All you have you have to do is run an nslookup against the URL (from command line). nslookup asks a domain name server what the IP address of a particular URL is.

Works exactly the same in Windows

The browser only consults the hosts file if you've entered a URL. If you enter an IP address instead, it takes the hosts file out of the loop. Even without resorting to command line, there also are many, many, websites designed for other purposes, like GeoTool (iplookup.flagfox.net) that will perform name resolution to give you the relevant IP address.

Or they can look up the IP addresses of their favorite porn sites while at a friends house as simply by 'pinging' it. Then write them down and bring the list home the use the IP address in the browser instead of a URL.

The TOR browser also completely ignores the hosts file. It tunnels onto The Onion Router network and uses the exit node's name resolution so it couldn't care less what's in your hosts file.

Also, you can run portable TOR from a thumb drive so even if you won't let him install TOR browser on the PC, if he's got a thumb drive, he still could use it. You can use a local security policy to prevent TOR running (which I *think* will work on portable TOR, too) or with a 3rd party app called an "application filter."

And you can block TOR from reaching the Internet using your PC's or the router's firewall.

I have no experience with 3rd-party apps specifically for blocking porn, but so long as it's a reasonably-clever 10-year-old, my money's on the kid.

[trebb]

Good luck - apps that do this are usually add-ons to browsers and it’s easy enough to add/remove a browser to get around them - not to mention the myriad ways to reach the internet these days. Would have to take administrative control over a device and then ensure those who you are trying to stymie have no access to any other devices...

[Celerity]

“, I added a large batch of URLs to my hosts file a couple of days ago on my Win10”

And it cared ?!

Never have I seen this work. It just ignores it. But it really worked ?

[mrsmith]

It works for me on Win10 with the IE browser.
I use Hostsman for convenience- but same method.

[Bikkuri]

“And it worked?”

So far ;^)

(But I also have a crap-load of ad-blockers on my browser too)