Instead of block listing bad websites, use allow listing to ensure a child can only access the websites you approve of. Use on a computer (instructions for Windows, Mac OS X and Ubuntu Linux are below), or on a router with allow listing capabilities. Our allow lists feature all the PRIMARY and SECONDARY educational sites above. Keeping your allow list(s) updated does require work. But it's highly effective and completely free.



Windows

1. Sign-in to Microsoft Family with your Adult Account.
2. Under a child in your family, click on Content restrictions.
3. Under the Web browsing heading, on the right side, check the box next to Only allow these websites.
4. In the text box on the left labeled Add a website you want to allow, add the sites in the allow-list-windows.txt file (and others you approve of) and click the + symbol.
5. To update your system, you may need to allow some of the websites listed HERE.

Allow listing this way works only in Microsoft Edge. Do not allow any other web browser to be installed on an allow listed (child's) account.

Updated 10 December, 2023

Mac OS

1. Go to Apple --> System Preferences --> Screen Time
2. Select a family member.
3. Click Content on the bottom left.
4. Click Turn On in the upper right.
5. Under Content, click Allowed Websites Only radio button.
6. Click the Customize button.
7. Click the minus (-) symbol to delete any websites you don't want this account to access.
8. Add websites listed in the allow-list-mac.txt file (and any others you approve of) and click on the plus (+) symbol for each one.
9. To update your system, you may need to allow some of the websites listed HERE.
10. When finished, click Done.

Updated 10 December, 2023

Ubuntu Linux

Open a terminal [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[T]
Backup the hosts file:
sudo cp /etc/hosts /etc/hosts.old
Then edit the hosts file:
sudo <text editor> /etc/hosts
Common text editors include gedit, leafpad, mousepad and nano. Replace <text editor> in the above command with whatever text editor you use.

Select All and copy and paste all the text in the allow-list-buntu.txt into the hosts file. To add to this list (look up more sites), open a Terminal [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[T] and type nslookup examplewebpage.com, or go to an IP lookup page such as this one. Note: Many websites feature content from other servers. You may need to examine the code (view the page source) of the web page / website to find all the addresses you need.

Backup the nsswitch file:
sudo cp /etc/nsswitch.conf /etc/nsswitch.conf.old
Then edit the nsswitch.conf file:
sudo <text editor> /etc/nsswitch.conf
Find the hosts line
hosts:     files mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns
and remove everything but,
hosts:     files
Save and "X" out.

Now everything on the Internet except the approved IP addresses are completely blocked.

Edit the hosts file again to allow access to additional websites (or remove sites).

To use the original nsswitch file
(to look for additional websites / pages / servers and / or run updates):
sudo cp /etc/nsswitch.conf.old /etc/nsswitch.conf
Edit the host line again to blocklist the Internet except for the servers in hosts

To use the original hosts file again:
sudo cp /etc/hosts.old /etc/hosts

Chromium-based web browsers (like Chrome & Brave) can bypass /etc/hosts; allowing unrestricted Internet access. Do not install those on an allow listed (child's) account.

Updated 10 December, 2023