Blocking / filtering StumbleUpon

February 6, 2008 12:51 PM

One of my kids has got hooked on StumbleUpon, and it's become a major timewaster. Their behavior is compulsive. I would like to simply block StumbleUpon's interactions at the router - due to the number of devices in the house - but how? My router can block servers with a list of strings in their names, and I put "stumble" in the list. The router is blocking the access attempts, but StumbleUpon seems to be falling back to an alternative, but I don't know the alternative server names... Suggestions to block StumbleUpon at the router please hive mind...
posted by anonymous to computers & internet (15 comments total)

While I agree with contraption, you are blocking the wrong thing. You need to block the IP address (69.36.233.10 apparently).
posted by herbaliser at 1:01 PM on February 6, 2008

Ha! I just asked a similar question earlier today. Maybe one of the suggestions I got will be helpful to you.
posted by dersins at 1:01 PM on February 6, 2008

I agree with contraption. Your kid will easily move from StumbleUpon to another internet obsession - sooner if you block it, more gradually if you don't.

This question might be useful; not surprisingly most of the answers involve a behavioral approach.
posted by Metroid Baby at 1:19 PM on February 6, 2008

How about saying quit using StumbleUpon so much...
posted by zeoslap at 1:27 PM on February 6, 2008

Yeah, sounds like an echo chamber in here, but: a technical solution won't work. Period.

Your kid will find a way around it, or move quickly onto a new obsession. The only solution that will actually work is a behavioural one.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 1:34 PM on February 6, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Unless you actively keep an eye out, blocking by IPs can be a pain, too. Some places like Myspace have multiple IP addresses with logon pages hosting a different IP addresses, etc. Trust me, I tried this method at school and it's a pain. Not terribly efficient and getting around IP blocking is relatively easy. Not that getting around blocking strings isn't very hard, either.
There are solutions out there which block sites based on content- nudity, social networking, hacking, etc, which actively updated IP addresses and will at least keep sites you want blocked. However, since they also run on IP-based blocking, using them is futile if your kid knows how to get around blocks in the first place.

Working in reverse, I think you can also set up trusted zoned in IE so your kid can only visit websites you specify.

I just don't find blocking specific pages to be a definite solution.

One solution a few coworkers use is to put the computer in the middle of the kitchen. That way when they go to SU, you can tell them to stop or you'll just unplug the Internet.
Do they have a computer in their room or someplace without high traffic? If so, move it to someplace else and set the expectations not to go to x, y, and z. If they do, well, do what parents do.
posted by jmd82 at 1:41 PM on February 6, 2008

Might be wrong here, but can't you edit your hosts file to point StumbleUpon to a null IP, like 172.20.0.1 (localhost)? That way it doesn't even get out to look for the IP from a DNS server; it's blocked at the machine.

Eh?
posted by sprocket87 at 2:02 PM on February 6, 2008

Example of what to add to your hosts file:

172.20.0.1 www.stumbleupon.com
posted by sprocket87 at 2:03 PM on February 6, 2008

sprocket: localhost is 127.0.0.1
posted by mphuie at 2:05 PM on February 6, 2008

Localhost is 127/8. I'd also just put a null route in your gateway/router for that IP block.
posted by kcm at 2:18 PM on February 6, 2008

Technical solutions won't work for a motivated person.
I an think of 10 different ways to get around host file changes, router blockages,etc...
You won't win and will probably create issues like lying.

It sounds like time on the computer is the problem, not the action on the computer.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 3:43 PM on February 6, 2008

The localhost solution should work, but as soon as you impliment it your kid (if even moderately saavy) will google for something like "internet block workaround" which will eventually lead to anonymizer sites like anonymouse.org or proxies at which point you're back at square one at blocking site after site.

Think of the scene in Matrix 2 where Neo is facing 100's of Agent Smiths...that's what you're going to feel like managing it yourself.

If a behavioral route isn't your style, then might I suggest you put this in the hands of a 3rd party? There are plenty of software based parental programs out there like Cybersitter, Netnanny, etc that will allow you to fine tune online time, sites visited etc. You could even log all pages, view a report, then use that as a means for followup with the child where needed.

Aside from that, there should also be a good number of ISP alternatives out there that will block things for you, as well as set limits on online time. One that comes to mind that I've seen personally is Affinity4 which does a fairly decent job with controls. The only reason I'd recommend a different ISP though is if the child is saavy enough to still find ways around software or router solutions...having things locked down on an ISP level is just another way to go, and this one in particular is into giving back to charities too.
posted by samsara at 4:33 PM on February 6, 2008

actually, on a linksys router, putting any word you want to block in the deny list will return a 550 error if that word appears ANYWHERE ON THE PAGE OR IN THE URL.

That's how I successfully blocked myspace and facebook from a community centers computers. Of course, it also borks things like google queries such as "how big is myspace", but...w/e. They can ask for that assistance if they need it.
posted by TomMelee at 5:30 PM on February 6, 2008

You could change your dns settings (on your router) to use OpenDNS. Then create an account and use the monitoring and blocking tools to prevent lookups for Stumbleupon (or Myspace/Facebook/what have you), as well as maintain a blacklist for browser based proxies. Lock down your kids computer so that they can't change ip settings, and you'll have created a fairly large obstacle between them and Stumbleupon. Not bulletproof at all, but not too bad, either.
posted by tracert at 9:01 PM on February 6, 2008

mphuie - sprocket: localhost is 127.0.0.1

Thanks for the correction. "Duh" moment here ;)

I still think the hosts file is the way to go. If he's smart enough to go around it/use an anonymizer then it's time to set some firmer rules anyway ;)
posted by sprocket87 at 5:21 AM on February 7, 2008