Windows 10: 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!

:)

 

What to do with containertag.js from vap1sjc1.lijit.com?

This JavaScript isn't disabling Adblock, but it's slipping past the block list somehow, perhaps by using slightly different URLs.

If you really want to block this script, you can block specific sites with your HOSTS file. I find this to be no trouble at all. Not everyone agrees.

If you go this route you don't enter the entire URL

(containertag.js from vap1sjc1.lijit.com) just enter

127.0.0.1 <space>lijit.com

Block websites by editing the HOSTS file

How to Block Websites By Editing the HOSTS File in Windows

The HOSTS file and what it can do for you

The Hosts File and what it can do for you

HOSTS File- Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_(file)

[Edit, 4 days after original post]

If this JavaScript message appears on a frequently used site, placing the site in Restricted Sites (if default settings are still being used) will disable scripting and block the message.

Note: Blocking JavaScript in this way might break desirable features of the site.

Restricted Sites: Internet Options> Security> Restricted Sites.

Don

 

Site Restrictions

You can access you router settings, probably there are some settings to block certain sites. This would block the sites on your whole network not only on the computer where the host file is located. Inside the browser settings there are also settings to
block sites but this would only apply for the current user, if you have another user with a different profile on the computer it would not block this sites for him. Best is to block via router.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

You could try Home Internet Security | OpenDNS I have never used it but it says it is free.

Another Free one is Norton ConnectSafe .

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.

 

Thank you sml156! Disabling the DNS Client did the trick!

 

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.

 

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