How to Put Parental Blocks on a Computer

You can use Parental Controls to prevent your child from accessing the Internet.

As a parent, you'll want to prevent your children from accessing certain programs or websites. There are several third-party programs you can purchase that will allow you to block access to programs and sites, such as Safe Eyes and Net Nanny. However, the Windows 7 operating system includes an application, called Parental Controls, that allows you to restrict access without downloading or purchasing any software. While Parental Controls does not allow you to block specific websites, this can be done by editing the Hosts file, which is installed on all Windows operating systems.

Instructions

Enable Windows Parental Controls

1. Click "Start," "Control Panel" and "Setup Parental Controls for Any User." Type your administrator name when prompted.

2. Click the "User Account" for which you would like to setup Parental Controls.

3. Click "On, Enforce Current Settings" under Parental Controls.

4. Click "Block Specific Programs."

5. Click "User Account can only use the programs I allow." Note that "User Account" should be the user account for which you are setting up Parental Controls.

6. Check the box next to the programs you want to allow. All programs that are unchecked will be blocked.

Block Specific Websites

1. Click "Start," type "run" into the search field and press "Enter." The Run box opens.

2. Type "c:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts" into the Run box and press "Enter."

3. Double-click "Notepad" when asked what program you would like to use to open the file. The "Hosts" file opens in Notepad.

4. Scroll to the bottom of the Hosts file and add the following text so that it is the last line in the document. Note that "website.com" should be replaced with the name of the website you want to block.

   127.0.0.1 website.com

5. Click "File" and "Save." All Web browsers are now prevented from accessing the particular website.

References

• Windows; Setup Parental Controls
• Windows: Prevent Children from Using Specific Programs
• Spywarevoid: How to Block Malicious Websites Using HOSTS File?