How to Block Gaming sites

[harroldcraft]

I have 2 children (11 and 10 years) and I am sharing my computer with them whenever they need some research on their school activities or homework. How can I block those gaming website like DOTA or any violent games.. I don't want to see them playing those games? Any idea?

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Quick goggle search found this-

Block a Website on Your PC

1. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc. If Windows is not installed on C:, substitute the appropriate drive letter.

2. Double-click hosts, and select Notepad when Windows prompts you to choose a program. If you don't get the prompt, or if the hosts file opens in another program, open Notepad (Start, All Programs, Accessories, Notepad), and then navigate to hosts by clicking File, Open within Notepad.

3. Place the cursor at the end of the last line, which will say something such as '127.0.0.1 localhost' or '::1 localhost'. Press Enter to create a new line.

4. Type 127.0.0.1, tap the spacebar once, and then type the address of a website you want to block. For example, to block all traffic from YouTube, type 127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com on this line.

5. Continue to add the websites you wish to block, each prefaced with 127.0.0.1 and a space.

6. Click File, Save to commit to your changes. Dismiss any warnings from antimalware software, which may be triggered by your editing of the hosts file.

7. Close any open browser windows, and then reopen a browser to test your edits. The blocked sites should not display in any browser.

Selectively Block a Website Based on User or Time of Day

If blocking a site from all users at all times is overkill for your situation and you want more control, try using your router’s Web interface to block a website selectively.

1. Open a browser and enter your router’s IP address into the address bar. Refer to your router’s documentation for the IP address, or, if you don’t immediately know it, try a common address such as http://192.168.1.1, http://192.168.0.1, or http://192.168.2.1.

2. Enter your username and password. If you haven’t changed the username and password, and you don’t know the defaults, visit Port Forward’s Default Router Passwords page to find them.

3. Browse to the section where you can block websites, computers, and access during certain times of day. Router interfaces vary, but look for a section with a name such as 'Access Restrictions'.

4. Enter the details of the content and the users you’d like to restrict, and save your changes. Your router’s paper or electronic documentation should provide full instructions.

Remember to exercise caution when editing your hosts text file, and always make sure to back up files before you edit them. Good luck!

 

[RCoon]

I work in an English Grammar High School, good luck blocking each and every game website they find.

 

[harroldcraft]

Yes, I know blocking websites are a bit hard since there are thousands of gaming sites in the net. But for sure, I can monitor them by using the History on my browser.

Thanks for the spoon feeding tutorial anyway.

 

[RCoon]

Yes, I know blocking websites are a bit hard since there are thousands of gaming sites in the net. But for sure, I can monitor them by using the History on my browser.

Thanks for the spoon feeding tutorial anyway.

For a broader and more general website subject block, look into something like netnanny, then you can tell it to actively block websites with the category or content of games.

 

[Bo$$]

netnanny

or Barracuda, that works really well, as you can get it to block proxies to those sites if they try and bypass it, Kids are really resourceful you'd be surprised

 

[RCoon]

or Barracuda, that works really well, as you can get it to block proxies to those sites if they try and bypass it, Kids are really resourceful you'd be surprised

Yes they are! Mostly proxies and Polish or lithuanian flash game websites. Easier to block .pl and .ru xD

 

[harroldcraft]

Thanks to all of your replies.. Very helpful...

Really nice to be here...

 

[RCoon]

I recently took an internet safety course for safeguarding children, and they had a very good analogy:
We can build fences around our swimming pool to stop our children from drowning, or, we could teach them how to swim.

 

[brandonwh64]

I have 2 children (11 and 10 years) and I am sharing my computer with them whenever they need some research on their school activities or homework. How can I block those gaming website like DOTA or any violent games.. I don't want to see them playing those games? Any idea?

BUT....BUT..... they just want to kill people and become the master gamer of the internetz!

 

[Frick]

Some routers can make use of openDNS.

 

[Easy Rhino]

threaten to beat them to a pulp. works every time!

 

[harroldcraft]

threaten to beat them to a pulp. works every time!

Maybe I should do that.. lolz...

 

[TheMailMan78]

Some routers can make use of openDNS.

+1 to openDNS.

Works well at my job.

 

[RCoon]

+1 to openDNS.

Works well at my job.

Easily tunneled through, you can use a portable browser (Freegate) widely used in Syria from a memory stick to entirely bypass it. I used it when I was at school. The administrator used OpenDNS up until that point. Then he started paying for his web filtering.

 

[Frick]

threaten to beat them to a pulp. works every time!

It's more effective if you don't threaten it. It shouldn't see it coming. First strike: Flat hand to the head. Second strike: Fist. Third strike: Break a bone. At four strikes it has clearly proven it's not useful; it need to be taken down. Mourn your loss (or blame your wife for the bad genes), try again.

:shadedshu

 

[Easy Rhino]

It's more effective if you don't threaten it. It shouldn't see it coming. First strike: Flat hand to the head. Second strike: Fist. Third strike: Break a bone. At four strikes it has clearly proven it's not useful; it need to be taken down. Mourn your loss (or blame your wife for the bad genes), try again.

:shadedshu

this is a far more thought out method than simply setting up opendns. one can clearly see the superior route to prevent your kids from mucking about on the intertewbs.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

I second the host file editing trick, but of course you have to password protect your admin account so the kids have to use guest accounts where the system files are protected. Otherwise they could pick up on ways to edit system files. Ya never know, some 10-11 yr olds are pretty smart these days.

 

[Absolution]

Heh I remember when I got the PC back in 97, my parents wouldnt let me play the Red Alert demo for more than 30 mins.

I think it went on for like 3-4 years, had time limited sessions. Actually had to take their permission before pressing the ON button on the chassis.

Luckily at that rate, I discovered online gaming (and MMOs) during my last years at university and went full head-on when I started work, it took so much of my time, I was glad I didnt do it during the crucial periods (high school and university).

I dont even know how Ill limit my own children from this addiction.

 

[TheMailMan78]

Heh I remember when I got the PC back in 97, my parents wouldnt let me play the Red Alert demo for more than 30 mins.

I think it went on for like 3-4 years, had time limited sessions. Actually had to take their permission before pressing the ON button on the chassis.

Good parents. To many games give you a warped mind.......like mine.

 

[BiggieShady]

Good parents. To many games give you a warped mind.......like mine.

Nah ... average gamer makes up for all missed childhood gaming later at college. That's when real mind warping begins

 

[TheMailMan78]

Nah ... average gamer makes up for all missed childhood gaming later at college. That's when real mind warping begins

Most brain development is done by that age. At that point only long exposure of massively violent media can change behavior. At a young age you are FAR more influenced by such things. Its why I monitor things my kids watch closely.

 

[pigulici]

Well, the simple for me was to put linux on pc with some firewall filter for some flash games +limit of software install + limit of time spend on game/pc(I have 2 pc , one for all to use and one for me to work, a photoshop station where only I and wife know the uefi/bios password);anyway, at some point this will be avoided, at least in part, the new smarthphone have a lot of games, but with linux I restrict the most of big windows games, they will learn to use linux/unix and, while I control the money, I can control the spend of them(on games or else...)...anyway at some point they will find how to do what I do not agree on PC, if you have physical access, you can do a lot,I know a linux game dvd ,it is live, you boot from dvd and start to play...well at least I force them to learn...

 

[95Viper]

If you are using Windows 8... you could use "Family Safety"; it is built in.

Some info: Keep your family safer

More info: Protecting your kids with Family Safety

If you are using Windows 7... you can get it here as part of "Windows Essentials 2012"

If you are using Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (32-bit edition only), Windows Vista (32-bit or 64-bit editions), Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit editions), or Windows Server 2008, you can use this download link: Windows Live Essentials Version 14

I have never used it; but, Heck it's free and I like free.
It looks to be able to do what you want.
Goodluck on blocking the little guys... it will good practice for them to try and overcome your attempts to block them.

 

[v12dock]

transparent web proxy via squidguard + opendns