The internet seems like a wide and open space where everyone can easily swim and surf to his heart’s content. It was created to serve as a helping hand but with time has spiraled out of control.
You have a huge number of websites at your disposal and sometimes the number of choices are simply overwhelming. The Internet is a dangerous place if you are still a child and are not aware of the rights and wrong.
Several websites are simply distractions for young adults or teenagers as they encounter various things that need to be viewed at discretion. The best thing is that there are ways to block websites that you do not favor or are proving time-consuming distractions to you.
It is easy to restrict access either partially for a specified number of hours or you can block them all together for a certain time. The best thing is that you have the option of opening the website if you need to surf it again.
1) Blocking a website using the option of a router
Certain websites are not beneficial to a healthy lifestyle and it becomes necessary to block them from your view. The amount of time you are spending is simply a waste and is ultimately keeping you away from fruitful work.
Are you using a network router at your home to share internet connection between the members of your family? Everyone must be using it on multiple devices with the same router. It is easy to apply a password on a router and block a website.
Until and unless you use the password you cannot open any site. This is the best option where you do not want the children to view some of the sites.
Remember although you have password protected your router still there are several unprotected connections available for usage. Some people are not bothered to use a password or in some cases, it gets leaked or hacked.
There is nothing to block its viewing and people can get easy access to it. If you find any unprotected networks and do not want your child to get access to it you can make the person responsible aware of it so that he can take precautionary measures of his own.
A router is one of the best possible options if you are looking for ways to block a website.
2) Blocking a website using the option in Windows
If you are looking for ways to block a website then you can easily do so in Windows. Remember your action will block the website only on one computer and not on other devices like tablet, phone or computer that are connected with your network.
The other devices will be able to access the site that you are presently blocking from your view. You need to reach the host’s file and edit it if you are interested in blocking any website. Open Windows Explorer and find the hosts file. Navigate to the appropriate directory as per your version using Windows Explorer.
For instance if you are using Windows 98 & ME : C : \WINDOWS \ , if Windows 2000 & NT : C : \ WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\ and if Windows XP and later versions : C : \WINDOWS\ system 32\drivers\etc\ . Double click on the chosen hosts file, choose Notepad and now open and edit the file.
Add the site you want to block, click on the option File menu and click once again to save. Now close it so that the website is blocked until further notice.
3) Blocking a website using the option of the software
When you use software for blocking a website it will do so only on one computer and not on the rest of the devices that are connected with your network. All other devices like tablet, computer, phone or another computer will be able to gain access to the blocked site.
Filtering software is easily available and you can take its help to block the desired site. Use a software firewall for your benefit. It is important to go through the instructions list that has been provided along with the software so that you can follow it diligently.
Do as per instructed if you are looking for ways to block a website successfully.
4) Blocking a website using the option of Family Safety
If you want to block a website only on one computer then you can take the help of option like Family Safety. Remember all the other devices connected, for instance, your tablet, laptop, another computer or your mobile phone will still be able to gain access to the website that you have blocked.
It is specially made for the children so that the parents can supervise the websites and control their view. It automatically blocks websites that you deem unsuitable for your child.
Open family safety from Windows 8 or 7 via Start Screen or Start Menu Option. Type the word family and again click on parental control or Family Safety option. If you are using Windows 10 then you need to access parental control option online via the Microsoft accounts site.
It has options of time limits and web filtering besides some others. Do the needful if you are looking for ways to block a website.
5) Blocking a website using the option in a browser
If you want to block a website in a browser it will only work in one single browser and not on the other ones that are attached to the same network connection. The other connected devices like another computer, laptop, phone or tablet will continue to view and gain access to the site that you have blocked from viewing.
If you are looking for ways to block a website in Chrome you can take help of the extensions that allow you to do so. The blocking option is not available with chrome’s default install and you have to make do with the extensions.
You can visit its web store to know about the options available to you. You can block a site in Firefox with the help of the available add-on called BlockSite that block sites. Internet Explorer has easy options for blocking unwanted sites.
6) Blocking a website using the option on Android Phone
If you are using an Android device and are looking for ways to block websites then you have to simply edit the host’s file and redirect the websites that you are interested in blocking from your view. You just need to use a text editor and file manager.
You also have the option to use ES File Explorer, which blocks the undesired sites quite easily by following the given instructions. You can also opt to install an anti-virus app that will help to block the sites you find not worthy of watching.
7) Blocking a website using the option on iPad and iPhone
iPad and iPhone have parental control tool that enables you to block several websites easily. You need to read the instructions carefully and follow them if you are looking for ways to block a website. Simply opt for Settings and tap on enable restrictions.
Set a passcode and now choose the website that you want to block. Whenever a person will try to open the site it will show the option blocked the website.
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