How can I block sites on the Internet with my router

Though the internet is your source of knowledge, there are many a times you wish you could block certain sites either for security reasons or to enforce parental controls and safeguard your kids. Not all routers have this option to block URLs. If you have one such router which allows you to block sites like the Linksys WRT54G or the SMC 7004VWBR routers, here’s how you can block the sites:

• Open your browser and log into your router page. Read our segment on How to Log into your router page
• Enter your password.
• Go to the section on URL blocking. You will find it either in the Access restrictions or firewall option depending on your router make. Just scout around on your router page till you see the website blocking option.

URL Blocking in a Linksys router

URL Blocking in a SMC router

• Enter the URLs of the sites you want to block.
• Save your settings.

The sites you specified will now be denied access.