I need something to block URLS

The computer I maintain has one user account without a PW. This is to allow residents of the facility to use the computer occasionally. I have had to remove some virus's from the computer. I suspect that the playing games ( which I have seen them do) might be the source of those virus's. I have decided and convinced management to put in a blocker so that the users cannot get to suspect sites. I guess I need two items a blocker and a list or lists that can be imported. Does anybody have any good ideas?

Bill

Here is a Host file picture showing a redirected URL (as mentioned in earlier posts).
The highlighted section is "blocked".

Hosts file: It doesn't prevent connection if a user types the website's ip address.

Example:

Blocked domain in my HOSTS file:



Can still visit site if ip address is used:



So that's fine on a home computer with a sole user.

Blocking games sites - could take a fair amount of work but you'd need some sort of monitoring tool to see what sites are being visited as well as the ability to block them.

Take a look at this software - free and paid versions:

WFilter deployment, online user manual and guide, WFilter documents.

Take a look at how to block games sites:

Block online games of network computers - WFilter Enterprise

User Manual: WFilter Enterprise Manual 4.1

Take a look at deployment examples and see if it makes any sense to you. If not - ask for help. It's not something I know much about so other members might know more.

If you don't decide to use it at least it should give some idea of the kind of measures neeeded.

remm said:

Callender said:

Hosts file: It doesn't prevent connection if a user types the website's ip address.

Great to know and now that you say that, it makes perfect sense. Thanks for that.

But that's because there's already a tool in Windows to block directly IP adresses. The Hosts files takes care of redirecting hostnames to manually configured IP, Windows Firewall blocks/allow specific IP adresses.

Via the Advanced Security feature, you can create outbound rules and block some IP, and apply it to all programs, all ports.

Add or Edit Firewall Rule
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
How to Create Advanced Firewall Rules in the Windows Firewall

Since some websites use pools of IP (sometimes changing all the time), this can be a pain (ex: Windows Update).
The easiest solution would be to allow only few IP adresses and block the rest (some schools do that), but you severely limit the usefulness of Internet with such a policy.

If think you're better off blocking hostnames via Host file, Content Advisor/Parental Controls or OpenDNS, and log your users Internet activity (Parental Controls can also help in that with the detailed report feature : http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...ental-controls). If some users bypass your security with direct IP then use Windows Firewall or your router's firewall.

I thin I have enough info to decide what to do. Let's call it SOLVED. Thanks guys.