Q&A for How to Block Websites on Firefox

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Is it possible to put a custom message on the blocked site?

Community Answer

Not without a serious amount of effort and, more importantly, considerable risk to your privacy and security. You can have a local file containing a custom layout and message displayed, but the method to achieve this overrides browser security protocols, which is not a good idea. In any case, it won't be possible for the whole network using OpenDNS, but only for single PCs or mobile devices, manipulating host files and browser configurations on each of them. I don't recommend it, as you'd leave your machines wide open to attack.

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Question

Is this part of Firefox or another third party program?

Community Answer

This is a third party program. However, reputable Firefox addons are almost always safe to install and use.

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Question

How do I unblock a site on Firefox that was blocked by mistake?

Tom Smith

Community Answer

Press Ctrl+Shift+A to open the add-ons and go to extensions. Find the "Block Site" add-on and open the menu by pressing the "---". Click "Options". This will open the page of options for the add-on. Find the blocked website under "Existing Rules" and click the word "Remove". Scroll down and click "Save". It is now unblocked!

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Question

Is it possible to use a Windows's host file to block multiple websites?

Community Answer

Yes, you can block many websites by using the host's file. You may need to reboot after updating the file however, so the list will be loaded into memory.

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Question

Firefox is not respecting my host file and is instead sending me to the website I blocked. Every other program on my computer respects it, I wasted an afternoon.

Arrogance

Top Answerer

Firefox enables 𝐷𝑁𝑆 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝐻𝑇𝑇𝑃𝑆 by default (as a security feature) now; it ignores the local DNS server and hosts file, and uses one of several hardcoded DNS providers. Disabling 𝐷𝑁𝑆 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝐻𝑇𝑇𝑃𝑆 should make it uses your hosts file again. Other browsers will also start implementing this soon, so it isn't just Firefox.

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When I try to save the host's file, it says "You don't have permission to save in this folder. Would you like to save in the documents folder instead?" What do I do in this case?

Iris8989

Community Answer

That's probably because the account you are using is not an administrator account. Admins can set limits on what folders you can save files in, block websites, and disable other settings. Sign into an administrator account if you have one. If you're not an admin, ask your teacher, guardian, or boss about this situation. Keep in mind that teachers block inappropriate and irrelevant websites in school, so you may be unable to persuade them to unblock websites.

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