Blocking MySpace

[Rhino]

I often get questions from people on how to block specific sites on their home PCs. Most of those requests involve blocking MySpace from their kids PCs. Since I've gotten that request again today, I'd thought I'd send out instructions for a simple block procedure using the Windows "HOSTS" file.

Keep in mind that this is a "simple" procedure. It is easily bypassed if your kids are very computer savvy. For computer savvy kids, your best bet would be a blocker software package or, better yet, a standalone firewall (not the one built in to Windows). Software firewalls loaded directly to the PC and blocker software packages can also often be bypassed by a really PC savvy kid willing to exert some effort. Standalone firewalls are generally much harder to bypass, partly because only you have access to them. This procedure should work if you don't have any budding computer engineers at home, especially if they aren't aware that you did it.

To block with a HOSTS file:

Identify the HOSTS file location for your operating system:

Windows XP
C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc
Windows 2000
C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc
Windows 98
C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc


Make a backup of the HOSTS file and put it somewhere safe, in case you mess up.


Open the HOSTS file in Notepad. To do this, you will first have to rename the file with a .txt extension, i.e. "HOSTS.txt". Then double click it to open it in Notepad. The file contents will look something like this:

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost


Now copy and paste the following text below the last line in the file:

127.0.0.1 63.208.226.219
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.24
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.25
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.28
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.40
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.41
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.41
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.43
127.0.0.1 63.209.191.74
127.0.0.1 82.165.169.214
127.0.0.1 209.59.200.170
127.0.0.1 myspace.com
127.0.0.1 www.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 home.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 browseusers.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 search.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 invite.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 blog.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 favorites.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 forum.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 groups.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 events.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vids.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 music.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 classifieds.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 profile.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 login.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 log.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 collect.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 linux.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 login.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 message.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 messages.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 mx2.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 ns1.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 ns2.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 profile.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 rio.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 search.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 viewmorepics.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta01.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta02.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta03.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta04.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta05.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta06.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta07.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta08.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta09.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta10.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta11.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta12.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta13.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 www1.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 videos.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 mail.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 signup.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 security.myspace.com


The end result should look like this:

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.219
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.24
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.25
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.28
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.40
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.41
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.41
127.0.0.1 63.208.226.43
127.0.0.1 63.209.191.74
127.0.0.1 82.165.169.214
127.0.0.1 209.59.200.170
127.0.0.1 myspace.com
127.0.0.1 www.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 home.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 browseusers.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 search.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 invite.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 blog.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 favorites.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 forum.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 groups.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 events.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vids.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 music.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 classifieds.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 profile.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 login.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 log.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 collect.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 linux.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 login.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 message.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 messages.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 mx2.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 ns1.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 ns2.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 profile.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 rio.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 search.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 viewmorepics.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta01.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta02.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta03.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta04.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta05.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta06.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta07.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta08.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta09.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta10.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta11.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta12.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 vmta13.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 www1.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 videos.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 mail.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 signup.myspace.com
127.0.0.1 security.myspace.com


Save and close the HOSTS file.


Now rename the file again to remove the .txt extension.


MySpace should now be blocked.
Again, this isn't foolproof, but it's a good start.

[Charity]

Good info I'll pass it on to some moms I know who would appreciate it.

[Wolfcounsel]

I just tell my grandkids no to this and no to that, and that's the end of it. No arguing, no back talk, no engineering, no anything. It makes computering a lot easier. Parents should do that with their kids, and follow through with punishment if necessary.

[glory]

I just tell my grandkids no to this and no to that, and that's the end of it. No arguing, no balk talk, no engineering, no anything. It makes computering a lot easier. Parents should do that with their kids, and follow through with punishment if necessary.

We have the same attitude at home. I actually use myspace to keep a personal space that has linked me up with people I had lost touch with for 10, 15, 20 years. I find it is a wonderful FREE tool to network and find people one may have lost touch with. Computers are a reality in today's world. No child today is going to be able to work in today's world with any success without having computer skills.
With this access comes responsibility because of content. Just like children go out and play and have to be taught about the dangers of strangers, drugs, and being a jackass in general and have to be constantly monitored, so to do children need to learn how to self-moderate in the internet world. This comes from the same careful and deliberate kind of monitoring and correcting and guiding that happens with any other situation where a child is concerned.
I do not begrudge parents who wish to block myspace. There is a valid debate as to whether it is a useful tool for anyone who is a minor especially given the dangers with sickos who would use it as their own personal dating service to find teenagers. That said though, those same perverts will use ANY avenue at their disposal to gain access to children. We can't stop our lives and the things we enjoy because they are sick bastards. Personally, i would like to see myspace continue to do more to keep this kind of thing in check, but I will assure you if they do not, someone else will come along to swallow them whole that does a better job of it. This is the free market system after all. I also have to put a shout up for parental responsbility and doing the kind of things that keep children from having the idol time on their hands to access places like myspace OR that leave children feeling so neglected that they feel the need to reach out to a complete stranger and will see what they want to see in the interest of just having someone who will listen to them. Parents do your job! Places like myspace, police your own neighborhood already and become a partner with parents.