Router’s are really useful devices to create a small home and office network. Nowadays configuring a router is a piece of cake, thanks to its easy and simple web based interface. Even a non techie person can configure a router and create a network. Let’s say you want to block access to specific sites for whatsoever reason. Is there an easy to do this, without installing any security software, editing hosts file or installing any firewall. If you’re using router, then there is an easy way to block websites using its web interface.
Block Websites from Router Level
Don’t worry, this is not going to be any complicated process. In fact, this is too easy. You just need to configure the correct settings from your router’s interface and your job is done.
NOTE: This tutorial is created with iBall Baton 150M Wireless-N Router. Some steps may vary depending on the router which you are using.
The first step to do is to open your routers web utility by going to the router’s IP address from a web browser. You can use any web browser for this task. If you don’t know how to login to your router’s settings area, then try referring to the router’s user manual.
Default Router IP Address
The default IP address for different popular routers are as below:
- Dlink Router: 192.168.0.1
- Linksys Router: 192.168.1.1
- Belkin Router: 192.168.2.1
- Netgear Router: 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1
- iBall Router: 192.168.1.1
In most cases, you can find router IP address from the user manual, if not then try IP’s from above list. After logging in to router’s web based interface, you will find something like Parental Control. You may not be able to find this exact word in your router but you will be able to find something similar to this. For example, Linksys router’s call this as “Access Restrictions” and iBall routers call this function as “Parental Control”. The process may somewhat differ depending on which company’s router you are using.
From here, firstly click on Enable, to enable Parental Control. Now click on Add New, to start adding website.
Filling out all fields are not compulsory. For example, you can skip adding MAC address. Basically this “MAC address of child PC” means the MAC address of the PC you want to control. Enter “website description” and “allowed domain name”. Please note that it is asking for the domain name which you want to allow access to and not block access to. Again, this step may vary depending on your router. Therefore its recommended to read the user manual or the help description carefully. Enter all the website’s URL which you want other’s to access. All Domain names/website’s name which are not added here will be blocked from accessing.
Also note the options for “Effective time” and “status”. Let’s say you want to apply this restriction only between 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM, then configure such settings and finally click on Save button.
In case, you’re having Linksys WRT54G Router, then here’s what you need to do to restrict/block access to websites. The first step would be the same for all routers which is to login to your router through IP address. Linksys routers use this IP address: http://192.160.1.1
Login and then click on “Access Restrictions“. Give policy number and name, enter MAC address of the PCs and then finally save the settings.
MAC address is unique for each PCs and it cannot be changed, therefore router’s have the option to block PCs based on MAC address. You can also block based on IP address but IP address may change from day to day, whereas MAC address of a computer will remain same always, as its tied to network card of that particular PC.
This way we can restrict access to certain websites through router. All the computer’s connected through that router (network) and having that MAC address will be blocked from accessing those particular sites.
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