Blocking all sites, with exceptions

Is there a way I can block all sites, and grant access only to a select list of sites --- without involving a proxy or firewall. I am looking for a desktop solution.

I was trying to play with the access and restricted site features of IE. Can't seem to use wildcards in the way I need in the restricted sites. Disabling everything in security for the internet zone still allows pages to load, although with limited features.

Win2k, IE 6.0.2

 

Hosts file.

C:\%System%\system32\drivers\etc

there is a file called hosts.sam and may be a file called hosts. either way you want to have a file called HOSTS in that directory with no extension. You can make one using notepad if you want to. just as long as it's called HOSTS and nothing more..

in the file edit it like this


127.0.0.1 http://websitenamehere.com



put each entry below the other, save the file

127.0.0.1 is the loopback address and will try to connect to your machine instead of the site in question.

 

Kodo,

Thanks for the quick reply, but I want to block ALL sites. The hosts file requires listing each site to be blocked individually (I think). Am trying wildcards there as well with no success.

 

Try this one out, but don't hold your breath:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q267930

 

Looks like what I need. I'll try tomorrow and let you know.
Thanks.

 

That did the job. I started looking at content blocking and this just put the finishing touches on it. Thanks a bunch.