Hey guys,

Quick question maybe one of you has come across before. Is there a way in windows XP to block access to certain IP Addresses? What I'm looking for is something like the HOSTS file, except that I need to be able to block out sites by IP address rather than just by hostname.

Maybe do a reverse lookup that's is purposefully wrong. For example:

You want to block acess to www.hereisporn.com that has an ip of 192.168.1.1

In your hosts file, list www.hereisporn.com as having an ip of 127.1.1.1

Never tried it myself, but it's just a thought.

Unfortunately that wont block access to the actual IP address. If you put mydomain.com in the HOST file and redirect it to 127.0.0.1 you wont be able to access mydomain.com, but if you know the know that the ip address is, say, 192.168.0.10, then you could still access the site via the IP address. The hosts file doesn't allow you to redirect IP addresses to the localhost ip so i can't use that.

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I need to completely block access to the sites though, rather than just block access from IE which I'm assuming this will do. I was hoping to do it without any third party applications but it looks like I might have to use one or write my own

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Does the Firewall included in SP2 allow you to do this? I looked around in the firewall settings in SP1 and didn't see anything. I could block it by port, but not by IP address. I dont have SP2 yet, but maybe that would be a good option if its available.

Tadly...the firewall that came with XP is better than nothing but, not by much. Most of us "scardy cats" have another-like NIS. With this, you not only have the firewall but the anti virus as well. I can go into Personal Firewall>Home Networking>Restricted and then add in the IP address I want to restrict or permit. You need something better than XP's version if you don't have somethiing else.

Do you have a router?

if not ... get one! cheap bit of hardware that will do what you are wanting and protect you against attacks and unwanted traffic, it will also stop internet spreading worms such as blaster and sasser, and any similar worms that start to appear in future.

you can pick a router up brand new for under £50, or even get a proper rack mountable one for next to nothing on ebay.