Contents

1. About website blocking software
2. Blockers (comparison table)
3. Self-locking
4. DNS Configuration (alternative method)

Attitude towards pornography is changing. There is emerging knowledge that porn can be addictive as a drug, damage mental and body health, waste time and ruin relationships. Whether you are addicted or not, the internet filter is one of the effective ways to quit porn. Even though there is no perfect solution, it is easily possible to block oneself completely.

Website blocking software

Most web filter programs allow blocking multiple website categories, including adult content. If you want to save yourself from any sexual content, also enable these categories:

• Nudity
• Intimate apparel
• Personals/dating – can contain adult content
• Proxy avoidance – used to bypass filters
• Image/media search – allows seeing explicit images

Website exclusion

Website exclusion is a feature to blacklist a website which should always be blocked or, conversely, whitelist a website which should always be allowed. Exclusions ignore filtering categories. A website exception that should always be blocked can be a mixed content website that has both mainstream and adult content like Reddit.

Time limit

Time limiting features allow to enable/disable web filtering or all internet for specific hours or set maximum online duration. Time limit is useful if you want to avoid distracting content during work or disable internet entirely during night time. If you consider that your internet use can become a waste of time, an internet time limit can force to use time more productively and actively.

Forced safe search mode and Youtube restricted mode

Safe mode excludes explicit search results from search engines and Youtube. 

Blocking method

Automatic blocklist – every website is categorized. This is the easiest and most precise method.

Manual blocklist – unwanted websites have to be manually included. Usually, categories are included, but they do not contain every website.

Keyword list – website content is scanned for specific keywords. This method triggers some false positives. Sites like this would be blocked because it contains the word ‘porn’ multiple times.

Visual scan – website content is visually scanned using visual recognition and AI.

Bypass protection

Bypass protection forbids to turn off or uninstall software, or bypass in any other way. I recommend only the programs having bypass protection, especially if you give in to temptations easily.

Lock mode

This function is very important for self-blocking. It locks software and prevents oneself from turning it off until the end of the blocking session/timer. However, not every software has this feature, especially parental control. In that case, refer to self-locking.

Blockers

This a comparison table of my suggested blockers. There are many others on the internet.

The most recommended blocker must include automatic blocklist as a blocking method, bypass protection and password protection.

Name	Type	Platform	Free/Paid	Blocking method	Bypass protection	Password protection	Lock mode
NetNanny	Parental Control	Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS	Paid	Automatic blocklist	Yes	Yes	No
NetAngel	Parental Control	Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, Fire OS, DNS	Free (default settings**) Paid (14-day trial)	Automatic blocklist	Yes	Yes	No
Detoxify ***	Self Control	Android	Paid (Free 3-day trial)	Automatic blocklist	Yes	Yes	Yes
FocusMe	Self Control	Windows, Mac OS, Android	Paid (Free 14-day trial)	Manual blocklist + keyword list	Yes	Yes	Yes
HomeGuard	Parental Control	Windows	Paid (Free 15-day trial)	Manual blocklist + keyword list	Yes	Yes	No
Cold Turkey	Self Control	Windows, Mac OS	Paid (Free 7-day trial)	Manual blocklist	Yes	Yes	Yes
Freedom	Self Control	Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS	Paid (Free 7 use trial)	Manual blocklist	No	Yes	Yes
CleanBrowsing DNS	DNS	Any	Free	Automatic blocklist	No	No	No
OpenDNS Family Shield DNS	DNS	Any	Free	Automatic blocklist	No	No	No

** Free version doesn’t allow to change settings. By default, it blocks adult/pornography, nudity, drugs, gambling, hacking, proxy/filter avoidance, and uncensored images.
*** 4-digit PIN code is used. It can be randomized and reset only by emailing support.

Self-locking

If a program has turn off and password protection but doesn’t have lock mode, it can be easily turned off as long as the password is known. In that case, set a random non-memorized password and keep it from yourself. There are 3 ways:

• Give to your relative to hold.
• Hide it in a place that is not quickly accessible by you.
• Use password time lock to hold and lock it online. When a password is needed to be unlocked, you have to wait for a specific time span (2 hours by default).

Password reset by email

When software allows resetting the password by email, use inaccessible email. It should be a separate email account set up with another self-hidden or locked password. 

Note: some blocker programs do not allow to change the email after you’ve registered. It is recommended to set up your separate email account before you set up web blocker’s account.

DNS configuration

An alternative method for blocking websites is a DNS configuration. A resource-light method which can be set on any device or router. However, it is quite easy to bypass (it doesn’t work while using a VPN) and doesn’t have password protection.

DNS is an acronym for Domain Name System. When you enter any internet website, your device requests DNS servers to tell the website’s IP address.

DNS servers below offer free service to block malicious, adult or other sites.

OpenDNS Family Shield DNS

Blocks adult content.

  IPv4: 208.67.222.123, 208.67.220.123

CleanBrowsing DNS

Adult filter. Blocks adult, pornographic, explicit sites, malicious and phishing domains. Safe mode is forced for Google and Bing.

  IPv4: 185.228.168.10, 185.228.169.11

  IPv6: 2a0d:2a00:1::1, 2a0d:2a00:2::1

  DNS Hostname: adult-filter-dns.cleanbrowsing.org

Family filter. Blocks everything that Adult filter blocks. In addition, it blocks mixed content sites (like Reddit), proxy and VPN domains. Safe mode is also enabled for Youtube.

  IPv4: 185.228.168.168, 185.228.169.168

  IPv6: 2a0d:2a00:1::, 2a0d:2a00:2::

  DNS Hostname: family-filter-dns.cleanbrowsing.org

How to change DNS

Change DNS in Windows

Go to Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.

Right click on “Ethernet” → Properties. Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click properties.

At the bottom check the option “Use the following DNS server addresses”.

Write in both DNS IPv4 addresses there.

Change DNS in Mac OS

Go to System Preferences → Network.

Select „Active connection present“.

Type in DNS IPv4 addresses separated by a comma.

Change DNS in Android

Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced → Private DNS.

Select “Private DNS provider hostname” and enter DNS hostname.

Change DNS in iOS

Go to Settings → Wi-Fi.

Press on a wi-fi network you’re connected to.

Then click “Configure DNS”.

Change the setting from “Automatic” to “Manual”.

Remove old DNS IPv4 addresses and add new ones.

 

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