Blocking sites with Hosts File


  1. Afees98
    Posts : 24
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Blocking sites with Hosts File


    Hello,

    I am trying to block all porn sites on the laptop that I let kids play on. I tried using the hosts file to block them, I found a huge list of porn sites to block. But when I tried to load other sites like Facebook, YouTube, etc. It will take forever to load as I believe it is checking the whole list of sites.

    Now what am wondering is there anyway of doing it and not have any difference with the speed of any other website? Because youtube should just come up with no issues. But with all those sites in the host file it takes forever.

    Windows 10 (by the way)

    Thanks!
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  3. indianacarnie
    Posts : 1,327
    Windows 10 Home x64
       New #2

    Not sure its possible to block all porn sites due to the sheer number of them but heres what Microsoft recommends : Set up Family Safety in Windows 10 - Microsoft Help

    We have many excellent tutorials here at the forums, written by some very capable people, heres one that may help : Family Settings - Manage for Child in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
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  4. lopedoggie
    Posts : 472
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit v1803 build 17133.73
       New #3

    SPYBOT SEARCH AND DESTROY: Spybot - Search Antivirus Software can/will white list and create an extensive (really extensive) host file block list if you want to try that. Norton Internet Security has a safe net function that can put a pretty good lock down of the bad stuff for kids. You ultimately got to watch what they are doing as generic words for porn, splash ads etc. and what can get through the firewall is not 100 percent guaranteed by anything.
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  6. DeaconFrost
    Posts : 1,366
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       New #4

    It is the very definition of impossible to block those sites with a host file. You should look in to the built-in controls, but I think you'll find more options with a software solution.
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  7. Afees98
    Posts : 24
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    DeaconFrost said:
    It is the very definition of impossible to block those sites with a host file. You should look in to the built-in controls, but I think you'll find more options with a software solution.
    Have any recommended software thats free? And it must only be on the computer. It cant do anything to the network as it is a laptop and we want it blocked on any network. which is why it needs to be only on the computer.
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  8. Digital Life
    Posts : 822
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       New #6

    You could try https://www.opendns.com/home-internet-security/ I have never used it but it says it is free.

    Another Free one is https://dns.norton.com/ .

    Also as to why pages take so long to load when you have a lot of entrees in your hosts file is because you probably have the DNS Client running, If you type services in Cortana you will find Services Desktop App then search for DNS Client and disable it.

    If you want a tool to help you with your hosts file try Hostsman http://www.abelhadigital.com/hostsman and if you use it use HostsServer too http://www.abelhadigital.com/hostsserver .

    I have been using the Hosts file to block sites for over 10 years and have had no problems with speed, Right now my Hosts file is blocking 84,274 sites for various reasons.
    Last edited by Digital Life; 18 Feb 2016 at 16:57. Reason: Beacuse I can
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  9. Afees98
    Posts : 24
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Thank you sml156! Disabling the DNS Client did the trick!
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  10. Digital Life
    Posts : 822
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       New #8

    Your welcome

    You should also look at HostsServer . When you block sites with the hosts file even though you are redirecting them to 0.0.0.0 your computer will still try to find the content, What HostsServer does is run a tiny server that returns a "OK 200" to the website which means the website thinks you received whatever you just blocked, It also stops your computer from searching until the request times out which speeds page loads up.

    HostsServer is a local HTTP Server specifically designed to be used with a custom hosts file and is the companion for HostsMan. Features include displays a message or an image when a website or content is blocked, customizable message or image, logs blocked URLs, built-in log viewer, and protected mode.
    Last edited by Digital Life; 18 Feb 2016 at 22:55.
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  12. Digital Life
    Posts : 822
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       New #9

    I thought I should show you how I setup the sources for Hostsman

    Blocking sites with Hosts File-sources.png

    Blocking sites with Hosts File-hostsman.png
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