How to Restrict a Website

Many web filters and security features exist that allow you to block a wide range of websites with questionable content, but what if you want to just restrict one or a few specific websites? Luckily, there is a simple method to do this to keep your kids off MySpace, your employees off Facebook or even yourself off YouTube while you're trying to finish that work project.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Restricting Websites on Windows

1. Open the "Start" menu, click on "Computer" or "My Computer," and then click on your hard drive (usually C:). Open the "Windows" folder and choose "System32." Select "Drivers," then choose "Etc."

2. Double-click on the file called "Hosts," and open it using Notepad.

3. At the very bottom of the file, add the following two lines for each website you wish to restrict (press the "tab" key in between the number sequence and the website name):
   127.0.0.1 example.com
   127.0.0.1 www.example.com

4. Save the file and exit.

5. Close any open web browsers and then open them again. You will now be unable to access any websites you added to the "Hosts" file.

Restricting Websites on Macs

1. Open a new "Finder" window, navigate to the "Applications" folder, select "Utilities" and then double-click on "Terminal."

2. Type the following code into the Terminal: "sudo nano -w /etc/hosts". Enter your user password if you're prompted for it.

3. Move your cursor to the bottom of the window and add the following line for each website you wish to restrict (press the "tab" key in between the number sequence and the text):
   127.0.0.1 example.com www.example.com

4. Press the "Ctrl" button on your keyboard, and--while you're holding it down--press the "X" key. Then press the "Y" key followed by the "Return" button (which will save the file).

5. Close any open web browsers and then open them again; the websites will now be restricted.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have Windows Vista or Mac OS X Leopard or later, you have access to a set of Parental Controls that can achieve similar effects without getting as technical. In Vista, go to the "Start" menu, then choose "Control Panel." Select "User Accounts," and then choose "Parental Controls." In Leopard, open "System Preferences," then choose the "Accounts" panel. Select the account, and then click on "Enable Parental Controls."

References

• ToThePC
• MacRumors
• MacTipper