How To Block Unwanted Website In Ubuntu Linux

If your Ubuntu computer is used by some one else besides yourself, specially children, then you might want to restrict some websites and make sure they do not open on your system. Here is a quick way to block such sites in Ubuntu. It is extremely simple doesn’t require any third party application, you just need to make a simple entry in the /etc/hosts file.

/etc/hosts is a very important file which handles DNS and internet handling on Linux based systems. In order to block some site from opening, open the /etc/hosts file by typing the following command on the terminal:

gedit /etc/hosts

and add the following line:

127.0.0.1 domain.com

Here replace domain.com with the name of the domain that you wish to block.

Now whenever there is an attempt to open the blocked website, the web browser will display the “Failed To Connect” message.

deewangan
it doesn't work for me, i am using ubuntu 8.10, any idea why?
- DavidDailey86
  in terminal, type: sudo su
  enter your password
  then type: gedit /etc/hosts
  add the line
  127.0.0.1 siteyouwannablock.com
  make sure you exclude the “http://” and make sure you block all sub-domains of the site.
  hope this helped!
  example:
  127.0.0.1 siteyouwannablock.com
  127.0.0.1 http://www.siteyouwannablock.com
  127.0.0.1 ad-server.siteyouwannablock.com
  - muhin
    i made it. write likes (must give same coloumn between 127.0.0.1 and http://www.facebook.com on above)
    127.0.0.1 localhost
    127.0.1.1 muhinboss-desktop
    127.0.0.1 http://www.facebook.com
    # The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts
    ::1 localhost ip6-localhost ip6-loopback
    fe00::0 ip6-localnet
    ff00::0 ip6-mcastprefix
    ff02::1 ip6-allnodes
    ff02::2 ip6-allrouters
    ff02::3 ip6-allhosts
Gus
How do I unblock it now?
- Udaiveer Singh
  don’t be a dumass lol
- jeff
  Hehehe be serious
muhin
i can not save hosts file bcz it’s read only (unchangeable)… now how can i save hosts file??
- muhin
  now i found how it can be save.
  - Tduck
    I got the same trouble. How do you fix it?
    - Stefan
      you must be super user to modify the file since it is owned by root.
      either get super user privileges first by typing “su” or “sudo su”
      or do it at once with “sudo gedit /etc/hosts”
      If you want to get to a site blocked using this method try using a free web proxy such as http://www.freedombyproxy.com
  - ANKUR VASHISHTHA
    you must be superuser in order to make changes….log in as superuser and then try it again
  - johny
    how.?
    - happyhippo
      Just type
      sudo gedit /etc/hosts
      then type your password as demanded and you will be able to edit and save the file.
      Btw it is also answered three comments above..!
sagar
i undrstood how to block a website in single machine but how 2 block website for all users on same network.
- Rh354
  you can use squid+squidguard for that
jia
i want to block all the sites in my computer which is related to porn stars,porn movies please help me
Bodincus
http://www.opendns.com
asgar ali m k
how to unblock?
Henkipje
How can I unblock this site now?
holynilk
i added mydomain.com to that list successfully, but still the site isn’t blocked…what to do?
- Devil Nessh
  you are really dumb…
Bence
To unblock, simply delete those lines you have added.
Ben
A better way would use iptables. There are several frontends for iptables that make configuration simple. The problem with /etc/hosts is that too many entries can slow you down.
Ridza
Ok, I deleted those lines but that particular site is still being blocked. Why?
peacee
ok i have tried to block sites and i did it i need now to unblock it please help
Taufik Kusyanto
don’t blocked domain
Hiren
it’s read only i can not edit it.
- arno-nyme
  sudo gedit /etc/hosts
  sudo, gives you access to files that only the administrator can access. It asks for your password
gks
i hav bloked facebook …nw plz tell me hw 2 unblock..
- ANKUR VASHISHTHA
  remove the entry from /etc/hosts and you can open it again…
Sina Golizadeh
I use TOR proxy. this is a way which isn’t effected by your way, what do u suggest?
Nomail
not working in 11.10 either
dontdoitlikethat
IMHO Its best to speak with your children, instead of trying to live in a bunker. /etc/hosts is not built for blocking access, there are several nanny tools that have community maintained lists. Long time ago IE 4 had parental controls, and being only 14 I was able to hack them in no time, and it was me who set the password in the first place. So if you are seriously considering taking advice from this post you are doing parenting wrong. And sysadmin worse, but that is just my humble opinion.
- authentic8
  “IMHO Its best to speak with your children, instead of trying to live in a bunker.”
  Speaking to your children and locking down your computer are both valid and complementary. You cannot say a person doing the latter and asking for help is not also doing the former.
  “So if you are seriously considering taking advice from this post you are doing parenting wrong.”
  Most parents would appreciate not being patronized by someone who presumably, going by clues in the post, may be too young or too inexperienced to be giving out parenting advice.
  Your post otherwise was helpful. Please stick to being helpful without the patronizing tone.
ANKUR VASHISHTHA
you need to clear the history and restart the browser..
Thnx for the tip…
Martin
clean, simple, and effective.
salman
how to block https version of facebook? please tell me
Tarek
it doesn’t work for me, i am using ubuntu 13.10, any idea why?
muja
Is it useful for an https:// address
- muja
  Actually this is a question! Forgot the ? sign.
siva
Thank you very much , i had another problem , But this details helped me a lot lot lot ……
Devil Nessh
Thank you so much ! I’ve been trying so hard to stop myself from entering porn sites, now this is the best way.
stranger “the perfect”
no such file exist .terminal response ,using ubuntu 3.2
Joe
Websites will not be blocked/unblocked until you logout and login after you remove/add and save.
Stephen Green
This site doesn’t have much in recent anything..