Blocking access to websites via each PC

Alrite,

I was just wondering if there was a program available that could be installed on each PC that can only allow a user to view certain sites and block all others???

If so, could someone tell me what ones would do the trick and whether there are any free one???

Thanks

Nick

Installing software on every machine is not the way to go. I think that you should choose one of the following two options.

1) Install/configure a free Apache proxy server in between the other servers and the internet. And then use the ProxyBlock directive to block sites that you don't want people to go to. Then set the proxy setting in all the browser windows to point to the newly installed proxy server. Cost $0.00
http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi

2) Install Purchase a small hardware firewall in between the other servers and the internet which performs content filtering at the URL level. Cost under $150.00

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And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Exodus 13:21

or you would just set the host file to add those sites and under the host file make all sites you dont want them to go to to 127.0.0.1
this way when they do a namelookup it will look there first and not be able to do anything. cheap quick and effective as long as you dont have a computer nerd on the keyboard.

The nerd scenario you described is one of the reasons that I recommended two centrally manage solutions.

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Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Proverbs 9:9

Our web server is hosted from our host (offsite). So, lets say that none of the people at my place of work are computer nerds (which they aint), how would I go about getting every site on the Internet to loopback (127.0.0.1) except the ones that they need for business use??? Or can u only loopback the address you type???

Where is the host file situated on Windows 98,2000,XP???

Thanks for all ur help???

Nick

On Win 2000 the host file is located in C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc. if you don't want people to go to a site called www.xx.com simply enter this line in you hosts file

127.0.0.1 www.xxx.com

For the last time this is no where near as robust as the Apache proxy where you are able to enter a word and have all sites that contain that word blocked, and you can password restrict access to the internet. etc. etc. etc.

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Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
Ezekiel 33:4