How do i block facebook on my Son PC?

By Deacon Brown
in Smart Home, Network & Security

 Share

Recommended Posts

Community Regular

Deacon Brown

Posted
Posted

Hi chaps

Not been around for sometime, hope your all doing well?

Ok I need to block facebook on my son PC 9As well as every other social network site and MSN, But for now FB is more important)

I have had a look around a few sites but I cant seem to get it working.

We have 2 PC in the house and a laptop.

My son has his own PC in his room, I have mine in my study and my g/f has the laptop.

Now I looked at blocking facebook via my router which was fine but it only allowed for 1 ip address to be able to connect to the blocked sites (which does not help if me and the g/f want to be on FB at the same time)

I tried to use the below method and still could not get it working

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
#      102.54.94.97     rhino.acme.com          # source server
#       38.25.63.10     x.acme.com              # x client host

127.0.0.1       localhost
192.168.0.7 HP0018715911AA
127.0.0.1 facebook.com
127.0.0.1 www.facebook.com

and i tried this

How to block Facebook using the Hosts file

The location of the hosts file depends on your operation system.

Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Windows 2000 C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Windows 98/ME C:\WINDOWS\hosts

Note! Make a backup of the hosts file and put it somewhere safe, in case you mess up.

1. Open the hosts file using Notepad or other plain text editor.

2. Copy the following:

# block facebook

127.0.0.1 login.facebook.com

127.0.0.1 http://www.facebook.com

127.0.0.1 blog.facebook.com

127.0.0.1 apps.facebook.com

3. Paste them into the Hosts file after 127.0.0.1 localhost

4. Save and close the Hosts file.

5. Reboot your computer to apply the changes.

6. Try to open Facebook into a browser.

So I was wondering if anyone on here could advise me on how I can do this.

Thanks guys

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Teebor

Posted
Posted

That should work, what happens if you try to ping any of those web addresses you added to the hosts file? does it come up with 127.0.0.1?

Another alternative is to sign up to http://www.opendns.com/start/ and create a free account. configure all your PC's routers etc to use that sites DNS but I am pretty sure that will block everyone as well until they release the bypass feature for the home user at $10 a year, however you could report iirc on if someone has been too facebook

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

WelshBluebird

Posted
Posted

I know I'm going to get disagreed with here, but unless your son is quite young, then blocking facebook, every social network site and msn is not a good idea. If anything in todays world, it could quite possibly leave him at a disadvantage socially. Plus, if he's anything like I was a few years ago, he'll find some way around it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Proficient

Saint Shiv

Posted
Posted

Will the hosts file method stop his son accessing Facebook by typing in the IP address?

The host file blocks the domain of the site, ie: facebook.com

You can use IPs, but sometimes the site's IP (just like your IP) can change.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Community Regular

Deacon Brown

Posted
  • Author
Posted

which router? you should be able to specify any number of computers to apply the block rule to, instead of simply having a global block with only one exception.

I got a netgear DG834GT and he has xp

A program called HostsXpert should help you block it using the HOST file

I'm not prepared to pay for a program I'm only going to use while he is doing his exams, there are other ways, I just need help implementing them, But i did look into it.

That should work, what happens if you try to ping any of those web addresses you added to the hosts file? does it come up with 127.0.0.1?

Another alternative is to sign up to http://www.opendns.com/start/ and create a free account. configure all your PC's routers etc to use that sites DNS but I am pretty sure that will block everyone as well until they release the bypass feature for the home user at $10 a year, however you could report iirc on if someone has been too facebook

Hmmm I have not tried to ping it yet, I'm not that techy anymore so I might need a helping hand with that lol

go into the internet options privacy settings and add facebook to block list, then give your son a limited account so he cant change the settings.

Now I am not sure if i created an admin account for him on the PC or if i just made him an admin.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Community Regular

Deacon Brown

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I know I'm going to get disagreed with here, but unless your son is quite young, then blocking facebook, every social network site and msn is not a good idea. If anything in todays world, it could quite possibly leave him at a disadvantage socially. Plus, if he's anything like I was a few years ago, he'll find some way around it.

Well I'm doing as it my house and my rules, he has exams and needs to be responsible with his time and study.

If he can not do that then he has all privileges taken away until he shows me he can be trusted and be responsible.

Its very simple, listen to me or have nothing, that's the beauty of being dad and in charge of my house!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Community Regular

Deacon Brown

Posted
  • Author
Posted

The HOSTS file method should definitely work. Did you clear out all you caches (DNS Cache aswell) afterwards?

Yer I did, I tested it on my PC 1st, I cleared the DNS and rebooted but it did not block it.

I'm lost because if you look at my 1st code i did not put # Block, i just put facebook.com and www.facebook.com

Am i doing something wrong?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

WelshBluebird

Posted
Posted

Well I'm doing as it my house and my rules, he has exams and needs to be responsible with his time and study.

If he can not do that then he has all privileges taken away until he shows me he can be trusted and be responsible.

Its very simple, listen to me or have nothing, that's the beauty of being dad and in charge of my house!

Then just ban him from the computer full stop, or put the computer in a family room.

IMO, putting up blocks on specific sites will just mean he will spend time trying to get around the blocks.

Certainly thats what I would have been like a few years back.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Experienced

PsyOpWarlord

Posted
Posted (edited)

I got a netgear DG834GT and he has xp

According to the manual for your router you can have have up to 32 entries in your blocked keyword/site list on page 5-4.

http://kbserver.netg...34gt_manual.pdf

EDIT: Ahh I missed where you wanted to have the GF to be able to access with the one IP issue. What happens if you put her in the DMZ outside of the firewall, is she still blocked?

Edited by PsyOpWarlord
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

MikeChipshop Member

Posted
  • Member
Posted

Well I'm doing as it my house and my rules, he has exams and needs to be responsible with his time and study.

If he can not do that then he has all privileges taken away until he shows me he can be trusted and be responsible.

Its very simple, listen to me or have nothing, that's the beauty of being dad and in charge of my house!

Wow.

I would work with him rather than against him. Tell him that you don't expect him to use Facebook etc while he is supposed to be studying and that you trust him not to. Allocate a time when access is allowed and reward him for sticking to the schedule.

If you still want to stick to blocking access completely then your going to have a hard time. Blocking everything your son might find distracting would be a full time job, it's not just social networking/messengers. Try moving his computer to a communal space perhaps?

At the end of the day, yes it is your house your rules but i would seriously consider a better option, exams are stressful time enough without extra tough rules being applied and you really should think about alleviating the stress rather than adding to it.

P.S. I have worked within the governments Children's services for 10 years dealing with exam age children and i know for a fact that blocking access to their favourite sites is a recipe for disaster.

Just a little friendly advice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

kinetix63 Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

This is not a debate about the rights or wrongs of somebody blocking their childs access to Facebook. If they wish to do so, and the child is still a minor, then that is their business.

Please keep posts on topic. Any further off-topic posts will be removed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

cork1958

Posted
Posted

I know I'm going to get disagreed with here, but unless your son is quite young, then blocking facebook, every social network site and msn is not a good idea. If anything in todays world, it could quite possibly leave him at a disadvantage socially. Plus, if he's anything like I was a few years ago, he'll find some way around it.

"If anything in todays world, it could quite possibly leave him at a disadvantage socially."

Man,

If anything, that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!!

Using Facebook is what is going to leave him at a disadvatange socially as he will forget how to go out and socialize in real life!

This is all it should take to make it work. Have it that way on my kids computer.

127.0.0.1 www.facebook.com

127.0.0.1 facebook.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mentor

HighwayGlider

Posted
Posted

This is not a debate about the rights or wrongs of somebody blocking their childs access to Facebook. If they wish to do so, and the child is still a minor, then that is their business.

Please keep posts on topic. Any further off-topic posts will be removed.

+1

The simplest method is to modify the host file on the kid's PC.

<img src="">

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Nick H. Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

Oddly enough there is this thread where the OP seems to have a similar problem to the one you believe your son has. My advice for this situation is the same as what I posted there, but I'll reword it to put it in to the appropriate context.

There is little point in blocking these sites for your son's computer, as it won't get him to start studying. As many people have already said, he might end up just spending the study time trying to gain access.

Instead, do as Mike Chipshop suggested and try working with your son on this issue. Create a timetable of the day, and ask your son what he normally likes to do. If he normally gets back from school and wants to go on Facebook, then put in to the timetable a 30 minute "Facebook time" slot. You don't even need to specify Facebook, just call it "Break." During those 30 minutes he can do whatever he normally would do. Then add in study times to the timetable, and just make sure that he does it.

Another suggestion is to not set insane chunks of study time. Ask your son how long studying holds his attention at a time, and factor it in that way. There is no point in creating a 3 hour study time if your son can only focus on the subject for 30 minutes at a time. So instead, create chunks of 30 minute study times, placing a pause of 10-15 minutes between them. Offer the idea to your son that if at the end of a 30 minute study he feels like he can continue, then he should continue for another 30 minutes and then he can have a 30 minute break. This way, he could study for an hour, then if there is a program on TV that he wants to watch he has the break time to watch it before returning to his studies.

Working with children is much easier than working against them.

EDIT: Apologies, I missed kinetix63's post. But hey, you can take or leave the advice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.