Block Unwanted Website Using Hosts File

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Are you a parent of your child that like to surf on the net and worried if they surfing porn site? So, after we show you how to block any unwanted website using Content Advisor, we will show you how to block it another way using HOSTS file because this content Advisor only works in Internet Explorer. Using the HOST file restrictions, it will effect all browsers because, this HOST file will directly block the connection to the website without use the internet browser. Ok, are ready now? click on read more to see the steps.

First, we need to locate the HOSTS file. Here is the list for each operating system:

* Windows 95 / 98 / ME: C:\Windows
* Windows NT: C:\WinNT\hosts
* Windows 2000: C:\WinNT\system32\drivers\etc\
* Windows XP: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
* FreeBSD / Linux / Mac OS X / Unixish operating systems: /etc/hosts

In that folder, find a file that doesn't have any extension called "hosts" and you open it with notepad.

Under the localhost line and the localhost IP (127.0.0.1), you can list any website that you want to block by putting the localhost IP first and then followed by the URL like figure below. For the blocking effectiveness, you must list the URL with WWW and without WWW because if you list the URL with WWW, that the URL without WWW can be accessed.

After finish adding the URL, you can now save the hosts file but don't rename it or put any extension on the file name. If you use any security software that monitor any changes in your PC like WinPatrol, a popup message said that the host file was edited will be appear after you save the file. You must click accept to proceed the changes, otherwise it will be back to default.

Finally, you can try to open the blocked site by typing the URL in any browser and the result is the site cannot be connected.