How to block access to VKontakte on a computer. Blocking in Opera

Useful tips

The desire to block access to certain resources is not that uncommon. It periodically occurs to everyone: from parents of schoolchildren to company executives. There are many options for implementing this idea, and if you follow just one of the methods below, access to the unwanted site will be blocked and it will never open on your computer again.

Why block sites

The need to restrict access to a website or group of sites arises when a person spends too much time on such resources. It distracts him from work or it’s just unpleasant for him to see some sites.

Parents whose children often play online games or sit on social networks while they need to be doing may also think about this. homework or walk outside. An employer may also encounter such a problem, whose employees do not have time to complete tasks on time, miss deadlines and use work equipment for purposes other than their intended purpose. Methods for blocking individual resources allow you to disable some sites, leaving useful ones.

Ways to block access to unwanted sites

The issue of blocking sites is very relevant and it is not surprising that there are a lot of options for implementing this idea: from blocking through a router to using special programs.

Through the hosts file

One of the simplest and quick ways, which can be applied directly on the computer without getting into the router settings, is to register the blocking address in the hosts file. This method is only suitable if you have one computer, and not a whole network, because otherwise you will have to change the hosts file on each PC.

When you try to load a site, the browser will search for this resource on the computer itself, and not on the Internet. Accordingly, a blank page will be displayed.

You can go a more interesting way so that instead blank page a resource useful for a student or employee was displayed. To do this, you need to know the IP address of the site (the same numbers that you indicated when blocking resources). This can be done through any Internet service, for example, using the NICTools resource.

In the input field you need to enter the address of the site to which you want to redirect, and then click the “Check” button. The IP line will display the IP address, which must be entered instead of 127.0.0.1 in the hosts file.

The screenshot shows an example of searching for the IP address of a Google search engine

Video: how to block sites on your computer through the hosts file

Via browser

No less simple and convenient is the method of blocking pages in the browser. This way, you can not only deny access to the resource, but also set the time during which the site will be unavailable. The only caveat is that the site will be prohibited only in the browser in which you make the settings. This means that if a user accesses the Internet from another browser that does not have such a blocking, he will be able to access the site. In this case, add lists of blocked resources in all browsers or remove unused ones from your computer.

Google Chrome

To block an unwanted website via Google Chrome, you will need to install a special plugin. Many add-ons have been written for blocking resources. One of the best is free plugin Block Site.

Go to the store Chrome apps, search bar Enter the name Block Site and click “Add to Chrome.”
In the next window, agree to add the extension. The plugin icon will appear in the browser toolbar. He can be gray and is not entirely noticeable - this means that it is not yet active. Now you need to configure it.
Go to browser options (button from three points in the right top corner browser window), then to “Tools” and “Extensions”.
You can go to the list of add-ons through your browser settings
You will be taken to a section where the plugins installed in your browser are displayed. Find Block Site there and click “Settings”.
All plugins and add-ons are reflected in the list
A window will open with different settings plugin. You can filter not only entire sites, but also resources by keywords. We are interested in the Blocked Sites section and the very first field under the heading List of blocked sites. You only need to enter the unwanted resource in the field and click Add button page.
Resources are easy to add to the list and just as easy to remove
The address will be added to the blocked list. You can also specify an address to redirect to another site or remove it from the blocked list by clicking on the red cross.
Now, when you try to access a blocked resource, a funny picture will be displayed on your screen with a notification about the blocking and the number of your attempts.
After blocking, the number of attempts to open the site will be displayed

Video: how to block a site in the Google Chrome browser

Mozilla Firefox

Blocking pages in the Mozilla Firefox browser is also carried out using plugins and add-ons. For example, the most convenient plugin is LeechBlock.

The plugin is interesting because you can not only block sites forever, but also choose a time when they will be unavailable. For example, deny access to it in work time to increase your self-discipline. There are many other similar plugins, here are some of them:

Block Site;
CensureBlock (blocks sites with pornography);
Blocksi (filter for parental controls).

Opera

Make it a rule to always check how a resource is blocked. Website and portal developers know how to bypass blocking. You may need to add a “*” symbol to the address or specify blocking not only http, but also https.

Internet Explorer

This instruction is suitable for Internet Explorer 8 (the browser is standard on Windows 7, in Windows XP and below you will need to update it).

In the browser menu, find the “Tools” option, then select “Internet Options.”
The “Internet Options” item is available from the “Tools” section
Go to the Contents tab, then under Access Restrictions, click the Options button.
Find the "General" tab and make sure that the following items are checked: "Users can view sites on the Web that are not classified" and "The guardian can enter a password to allow users to view restricted content."
User options must be enabled
If items are not checked, check them. In the second step, you can create a password, after setting which you will be able to access closed sites using this password. Choose complex password, so that users cannot pick it up.
Go to the “Age Categories” tab and move the slider to select the categories that can be viewed. Details are displayed below in the Description block.
Move the slider and select categories
On the Allowed Hosts tab, you can add addresses to block. It is better to insert the “*” symbol before the site address to completely block the resource with all subdomains. After specifying each site address, click “Never.” Finally click "OK".
Add resources to the list and block viewing
After installation necessary settings close the “Access Restriction” window with the “OK” button. Now on the “Content” tab, in the “Access Restriction” block, click “Enable”.

Microsoft Edge

Browser Microsoft Edge- the youngest and actively developing. Every month more and more plugins and additions to it appear. However, on this moment Plugins can only block ads on websites. There is no provision for blocking access to resources by standard browser options or through add-ons. Developers are doing everything possible to make the user’s work with the Internet easier: they hide additional settings and hide menu sections that require deep knowledge of information technology.

Yandex browser

Via router

Setting up a lock on a PC may not be very convenient. In addition to the fact that you will have to take care of blocking sites in each browser, this method may not work if you use Wi-Fi router to connect to the Internet. The main purpose of resource prohibition is to protect the user from unwanted information. This is usually what parents want to do. But the child has other devices besides the PC: phone, tablet, laptop. Setting up a filter on each device will be a time-consuming task.

It's much smarter to do centralized configuration: A child will not be able to access the router and disable settings unless they know its password.

There are a great variety of router models. The simplest and most inexpensive ones have only basic functionality. The most expensive models have a built-in filtration function. It usually has a name similar to Parental Control (« Parental control"). Go to the settings of your router and look for such an item in the main menu. Typically, the procedure for adding addresses to the block list is the same for all types of routers.

In this way, you can not only blacklist sites, but also completely limit access to the Internet, except for a few useful pages.

Let's look at an example TP-Link router TL-WR841N.

It is better to enter the router settings from the computer on which you do not need to block sites (parent PC).

Dial in address bar browser address "192.168.1.1". In the window that opens, enter the login and password for the router. If you forgot it and didn’t change it before, you can see it on a special sticker on the router or on the box. The standard login and password is the word admin.
In the settings control panel in the left menu, find the Parental Control item, then turn on this option (Enable).
Now enter the MAC address of the computer that will manage the router settings. If this is the same computer from which you connected to the router, then near the field MAC Address of Your PC, click the Copy To Above button. Then click the Save button.
Enable parental controls option
Just below on the same tab, click the Add New button. Here you can add addresses to block.
Click Add New to create a list of addresses to block
Find the Website Description item and fill it with a description in English (or transliteration): describe the sites being blocked.
The next step is to enter the site addresses themselves in the Allowed Domain Name section. A total of 8 sites can be specified. In this case, it is not necessary to write the full address of the site: it is enough to write one word that is part of the address. Then all sites that have this word in the URL will be blocked.
Enter the required resources to open or block them
Next important point sets black mode or whitelist. This is the Status field. If you select the Enabled mode, all Internet resources will be blocked, except those you specified above. The second Disabled mode will prohibit access only to the specified resources - visiting the rest will be open. Be sure to click the Save button.
You can create many such blocking rules. They are available in the list on the Parental Control page.
Rules can be edited and deleted

Video: how to block a website on a router

Through a firewall

In the operating system itself Windows versions 7, 8 and 10 have their own security barrier that can block sites. It's called a firewall or firewall.

To do this you will have to use command line and find out the IP addresses of sites to block.

Click “Start” with the left mouse button in Windows 7 or right click in Windows 8 and 10. Then select “Run”.
Type the command “ping blocking_site_address” (without quotes) to find out its IP address. Rewrite the numbers with dots that will appear when transmitting packets to the site.
Enter the ping command to find out the site's IP address
Now start the firewall in safe mode. On Windows 8 and 10, use search for a word to find it. In Windows 7, go to the following path: “Control Panel” / “Windows Firewall” / “Advanced Settings”.
Find your firewall in search or in Control Panel
Find the block “Rules for outgoing connection" and select "Create a rule".
Create a blocking rule
Check "Custom" and select "Next".
Select custom rules
Check "All Programs".
Select item for all programs
In the next window with the heading “Protocol and Ports” leave everything unchanged.
In the “Scope” section, in the “Specify remote IP addresses to which the rule applies” block, select “Specified IP addresses”. Then click the “Add” button and insert the IP address of the site to block into the field (the same numbers from the command line). Specify whether to block the connection
In the “Profile” section, all items must be checked.
In the last window, come up with a name for the created rule. Save the rule.
Launch the site in your browser and check for blocking.

Using an antivirus

Modern antiviruses also have a system for blocking unwanted content. This is correct, because the calling antivirus program not only protect the user from malware and information attackers, but also protect them from sites with unpleasant topics: pornography, extremism, violence. Majority similar programs denotes the option to deny access as “Parental Control”, but other wording is also found. Let's look at some of the most popular antiviruses.

Avast Free Antivirus

Although this software is free, it does not lack the ability to block resources.

Kaspersky Internet Security

Paid antiviruses usually have a number of additional modules, including parental control functions. With such options you can not only block sites, but also track your browsing history and block downloads certain files according to their type.

Content filtering programs

Another way to block unwanted sites is to install a specialized site content filtering system, which allows you, like an antivirus, to block entire domains and individual pages. Unlike antivirus, such programs have broader functionality and reliable protection.

They also allow you to set a password so that the user cannot disable the lock. Filtering programs can be paid or free, single-user or server-based. Some of them are suitable for installation on a home PC, others will good decision for the whole computer network with your own server.

DNS filtering

The final method that allows you to block prohibited sites is DNS filtering. A specific DNS address belonging to one of the filtering companies is registered on the computer or browser. Thus, all sites from the lists stored on the server of such a company and classified as undesirable for children or for residents of the country as a whole are blocked.

Examples of such filters:

Sky-DNS secure search;
Yandex family filter.

Undesirable sites will be blocked even in search engines: prohibited links will be removed from search results or clicking on them will be impossible.

An exhaustive list of ways to block unwanted resources will help you protect your children and loved ones from unwanted or prohibited content. With the help of blocking, you can also solve the issue of your own discipline and not be distracted by extraneous entertainment sites, social media and games.

My name is Elizaveta, I am 27 years old. Higher education in pedagogy, specialty: computer science teacher and in English; the second is a systems engineer. She worked in the educational field, as well as in the IT field. Since childhood, I have been interested in writing articles, stories and other literary opuses :-), with spelling, punctuation and grammar, everything is in perfect order. As a student, I worked part-time as a rewriter/copywriter. I wrote on topics that were suggested to me, most often these were children’s/women’s topics: health, pregnancy, children, development. Less frequently came across news and announcements on finance/business and technology. Now I'm running my own thematic communities on social networks, I write articles for them myself.

Why does this desire arise?

You came to work and, opening the office door, saw how your subordinates darted to their workplaces from your secretary’s desk. Pretending that nothing had happened, you waited for a break when all the “workers” rushed to the cafeteria, you sat closer to the secretary’s computer and looked at the history of site visits in all his Internet browsers. “So, what were they watching here?.. Yeah, they were on VKontakte, then they switched to Odnoklassniki, then they went to Facebook... Well, I’ll arrange it for them now!” - this is the standard reaction of a boss who discovers what his subordinates are doing during working hours. And then there will be no less standard reprimand with threats of dismissal and a “final warning”. Having blown your mind and your employees’ minds, you return home and see your little son sitting at the computer on the same Facebook/Odnoklassniki/VKontakte and communicating with his friends. Naturally, a new explosion of emotions will follow, which will also fall on the offspring: not only are the subordinates’ minds clouded from the computer, but it’s also the same at home! Surely you want to make sure that these stupid sites are completely removed. But this, as you yourself understand, is unrealistic. But you can block access to them yourself, so as not to get on your nerves later. And how exactly?

How to block a site

So, are you confident in your decision? Then you first need access to the computer you want to do this on. Have you sat down? Have you turned it on? Now the order of your actions depends on the selected algorithm. In response to the question of how you can block a site, any programmer will offer you two options: either using the hosts file, or going into the settings and applications of each browser and blocking sites several times. It's best to use both methods.

How to block sites using the hosts file

This method is the simplest, so let's start with it. If you take it, you will not need to install any applications or programs - everything is already on your computer. The algorithm of actions is given below.

On the desktop, select the “My Computer” shortcut.
Click " Local disk(WITH:)".
In the window that appears, open the "WINDOWS" folder.
If the warning “These files are hidden” pops up, click “Show the contents of this folder.”
A bunch of folders pop up, but we don’t pay attention to them, we look at the end of the list, there should be one called “system32”. Found it? Open it.
Again there are a lot of folders, only now we are looking for the one we need at the beginning. Its name is "drivers".
There should be only three folders in it. Select the one with the name "etc".
Here it is, the "hosts" file - it is in first place in the list that appears. Open it with standard program, whose name is “Notepad”.
A similar one opens Text Document(photo).
After the word "localhost" press "Enter", enter local address computer “127.0.0.1”, indent by pressing the “Tab” key once and write the address of the site to which we want to block access.
If you need to make more than one site inaccessible, with new line again we write the local address of the computer, press the "Tab" key and write the address of the next one.
When you're done, save your changes to a file and you're done!

How to block a site in a specific browser

However, when blocking sites using “hosts”, you need to be extremely careful and careful. After all, one space after pressing "Tab" - and all your work will go to waste. But in order to be sure to block access to the site from the computer where you are currently working, you need to add addresses to the content block lists of each Internet browser. And this is in different browsers done differently. So let's start with Internet Explorer.

Blocking in Internet Explorer

Open Internet Explorer.
On the panel under the browser logo ("File", "Edit", "View"...) click the "Tools" button.
In the menu that appears, select "Internet Options".
In the pop-up window, click the “Contents” tab.
In the "Access Restriction" section, click "Enable".
A window with a line will appear in front of you. Write the address of the unwanted site in it and click “Never”.
Next, you will be asked to set a password so that your actions are not canceled by strangers (the same employees/children). Enter the password, its confirmation and a hint for it.
Click OK.

Blocking in Opera

Go to your browser settings.
Select the "Advanced" tab.
Click the "Blocked content" button.
In the window that appears, click “Add” (photo).
In the box that pops up, write the website address in the format "http://..."
Press the "Enter" key.
Close the settings window.

Lock in Mozilla Firefox

To block a site in this browser, you need to install the BlockSite Firefox add-on. The algorithm for installing the application and blocking sites using it is given below.

Go to the official website of the browser.
Download the "BlockSite Firefox" add-on.
In the Mozilla Firefox menu, select the "Tools" tab, and in it - the "Extensions" item.
In the pop-up window, click on BlockSite and go to its settings.
Click "Add".
In the window that appears, write the site and click “OK”.
Also add all other unwanted sites.
Click "OK" in the application window.

Blocking in Google Chrome

Google Chrome also requires installation of an add-on.

Open browser.
Click on the image of a wrench.
In the pop-up menu, click “Tools”, and in the item that appears next, click “Extensions”.
The Google Chrome online store page will appear in front of you. Select the Siteblock app.
Click on "Add to Chrome".
Click "Install" in the window that appears. Wait for the installation to complete.
Do the first two steps again.
In the Siteblock window, write unwanted sites in a line.
Click the "Save options" button.

These are all ways to block access to sites. Now you can easily answer questions about how to block a site, and also apply the information received in practice.

The need to block a certain Internet resource most often arises from parents who do not want their child to view this site. But ordinary users should also know how to block a site so that it does not open in any browser.

Self-locking

You can block access yourself by making changes to the settings of the Windows OS, firewall or browser. The VKontakte website (vk.com) will be used as an example.

In the hosts file

The easiest way to block access to a specific portal on the Internet is to add it to the list of the hosts file.

Disadvantages of the method:

the user, faced with a similar situation, will immediately look at the hosts file;
it is valid only for Windows OS.

In the firewall

Windows Firewall blocks resources by their IP address, so you need to know it first.

In browsers

You can't block resources in Chrome regular means. This requires installation additional extensions. Therefore this the method will work for Internet browsers that support the installation of add-ons.