[RESOLVED] Blocking Sites

[BenJones]

Hi I made a small app over the weekend that allows one to block websites, I made this to block access to facebook
Now the method I am using is the HOSTS file in windows, this works perfect and blocks in all Broswers.
Now I know what you guys are thinking this can be easy undone your correct.

So my questions are
how to block sites?
Can this be done in VB.NET?
How?

I had two ideas one is a addon that filters IEs events I done this works fine but a problum not eveyone uses IE now
so you can get around with any other broswer.

Second Idea was some sort of proxy software between the client that fillters stuff before it's sent to the client.
agian this maybe ok but mean configing each broswer.

Any ideas.

[dday9]

In the past what I've done is simply edit the HOST file, but like you said if somebody knows about the HOST file, then it's easily crackable as all it is, is a textfile. My question to you is, who is your target audience? In my situation, I created a program that blocks a few websites using the HOST file for my dad who has 4 employees. They didn't know about the HOST file, so it worked in my favor. If you're audience is a group of programmers, or just people that know about the HOST file in general, I would suggest your second idea.

[BenJones]

Well I want to make it for gernal people home users who ever maybe intrested. for bussiness to to block sites like facebook, youtube and other dogy sites,

[wakawaka]

While not Ideal, there is WinPCap, which WireShark uses to get low level network stats.

I'm not aware of any innate way that .Net can filter traffic like this without tapping into unmanaged code in some way, other than the simpler methods you suggested. You could look to see if any wrapped apis exist for WinPCap. Otherwise get some expensive network devices to do it for you :P

If you have a domain, you could look into group policies that can automatically set proxies for you. I know many browsers these days have admin templates for them to manage them.

[dunfiddlin]

I'm not sure everybody would agree with your assessment of Facebook and YouTube as dodgy sites! Their respective libel lawyers for starters!

Windows already has parental controls available so I'm not sure what 'market' there would be for home users. Businesses running networks, of course, have a variety of methods available to them by controlling the network server, firewalls etc. independently of the users.

[BenJones]

I'm not sure everybody would agree with your assessment of Facebook and YouTube as dodgy sites! Their respective libel lawyers for starters!

Windows already has parental controls available so I'm not sure what 'market' there would be for home users. Businesses running networks, of course, have a variety of methods available to them by controlling the network server, firewalls etc. independently of the users.

Maybe not but a few fiends of mine are sick of there kids accessing them without them been around.
So you never know but not also them sites I am on about porn sites, I think I may have a look at that WinPCap
bascily I want to try and make some kind of child safe browsing experience, Just wanted a good project to work on like, if it was even possiable in VB.NET

Plus not eveyone know how to always config firewalls most beginners only know how to connect to the internet.

Thanks for the help I look into the things suguested. If I find anything out I post here so someone else may need something like this.

Ps The host one I been makeing I upload to the CodeBank Soon just adding password protection options.

[dunfiddlin]

The problem with the 'child safe' experience is that it really doesn't exist. You simply can't block everything unless you never allow any Internet access at all when you are not present ... and you don't need a program for that. If you're aiming at a no configuration application as you suggest then who gets to decide what is and isn't child safe anyway? Until a few days ago it was generally assumed that The Tweenies was child-safe, after all!

[Scophie]

Well I want to make it for gernal people home users who ever maybe intrested. for bussiness to to block sites like facebook, youtube and other dogy sites,

Yes, that's true. For blocking a few sites, you can simply by editing the hosts file, but it is easy to overcome.
For business to block a lot of sites, just like for employee restricting, maybe you need professional web filter.

[BenJones]

Well after doing some more looking on google I came accross this looks intresting
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/...r-step-by-step