Restrict IE access to certain websites ?

garred

As the title says is there a way of doing this rather than having to buy a proxy/firewall. Think I heard of doing it through the WINS file, is that possible? We basically want to limit ie access to about 3-4 web pages only.

Orion

You can do it through the HOSTS file. It's in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc.

Open it in notepad and add lines similar to below for each site you want to restrict. 127.0.0.1 is your local machine.

127.0.0.1       www.bannedsite.com

garred

Thanks for the reply Macros but I was looking to do it the other way ie: only allow say 3 websites. Can this be done using the HOSTS file?

EDIT : actually just figured it out, thanks again Macros.

aFlabbyPanda

you can use group policy to restrict access to website by configuring IE settings. Works on 2K & XP in either a workgroup or domain.

Orion

How'd you do it garred?

garred

Was actually quite simple in the end. In ie 6 enable the content advisor and in there is a tab approved sites. I just added the sites I wanted and password enabled the content advisor. So now it allows access to the sites I've enabled and if you try sites that are not on the approved list it asks for the password. It'll do the job

Orion

Nice one. A real Occam's razor solution

Wolverine_1999

What if they install a different web browser?

In my Netgear router you can configure policies as well, there might be something in yours? (if you are using one)

Skud

restrict admin priviliges should do the trick on their user

Orion

Skud wrote:

restrict admin priviliges should do the trick on their user

Won't stop them running Firefox Portable.