# Why can't I block access to specific websites on my Linksys router?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 23, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267 "2014-10-23T18:16:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/1 "2014-10-23T18:16:00Z")
(Don’t know where this goes to, but I’m putting it here…)
Have a Linksys WRT54Gs router, admin permissions, and I want to block access to some sites. However, no matter what I do, this function doesn’t work. The steps I take are:
1. Login
2. Go to “Access Permissions”
3. Create a new policy (JohnTs Policy), #1
4. Enable the policy
Going down the list of options…
1. Allow access every day, 24/7
2. No blocked services
3. Website blocking by URL address: [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) (for example). Also tried [http://www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) and [https://www.straightdope.com](https://www.straightdope.com)
4. Website blocking by keyword: Straightdope
5. Click on “Save Settings”
6. Nothing happens.
I’ve also tried the above with entering my computer’s MAC address, IP address… and to no avail: I can still go to [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) even if I tell it “Block this computer from going to this site!”
Any suggestions that don’t have me purchasing a new wireless router? I’ve tried a number of things I read on some tech forums, but none of it has helped.
---
### Author:  [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/2 "2014-10-23T19:08:35Z")
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> (Don’t know where this goes to, but I’m putting it here…)
>
> Have a Linksys WRT54Gs router, admin permissions, and I want to block access to some sites. However, no matter what I do, this function doesn’t work. The steps I take are:
>
> 1. Login
> 2. Go to “Access Permissions”
> 3. Create a new policy (JohnTs Policy), #1
> 4. Enable the policy
>
> Going down the list of options…
>
> 1. Allow access every day, 24/7
> 2. No blocked services
> 3. Website blocking by URL address: [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) (for example). Also tried [http://www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) and [https://www.straightdope.com](https://www.straightdope.com)
> 4. Website blocking by keyword: Straightdope
> 5. Click on “Save Settings”
> 6. Nothing happens.
>
> I’ve also tried the above with entering my computer’s MAC address, IP address… and to no avail: I can still go to [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) even if I tell it “Block this computer from going to this site!”
>
> Any suggestions that don’t have me purchasing a new wireless router? I’ve tried a number of things I read on some tech forums, but none of it has helped.
Poking around [Google returns](https://www.google.com/?q=wtr54gs+web+blocking) shows a step in the instructions that you don’t mention in your sequence.
Did you assign the blocking policy to specific computers in your network, or a range of network addresses? Access restrictions seem to require identifying specific IP or MAC addresses to be applicable to; if you didn’t do that, your policy applies to nothing.
ETA: [Cite](http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php?threads/wrt54g-website-blocker-not-working.19902/#post-91586)
---
### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/3 "2014-10-23T19:38:21Z")
Because consumer grade net gear has really crappy firmware. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve found features that either don’t exist past the menu level, or simply don’t work.
---
### Author:  [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/4 "2014-10-23T19:58:24Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#):
>
> Because consumer grade net gear has really crappy firmware. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve found features that either don’t exist past the menu level, or simply don’t work.
Very often true, but not necessarily applicable in this case.
It’s “consumer-grade crap” but that’s not an excuse to give up, especially since there seems to be at least one possible fix action in the queue. Certainly, I’ve had at least mixed success with “consumer-grade crap”. What you’re suggesting is that there’s no solution other than plunking down 1-10k dollars for pro-grade. It’s too soon for that.
But since this is (still) in IMHO, I suppose low-intensity free-form rants aren’t completely out of order.
ETA: Earlier, I reported for forum change, because to me this feels more like a GQ.
---
### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/5 "2014-10-23T20:12:21Z")
I guess you need to thank us in advance, in case one of the suggestions works.
---
### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/6 "2014-10-23T20:15:08Z")
That wasn’t really a rant - I’ve used dozens of consumer-grade routers and firewalls, and not a one had a completely working set of functions. Some were needlessly convoluted and only worked if you tied the configuration in knots. Others had either/or choices about security that blocked one subsidiary feature or another. But many, especially in the user control, blocking and filtering features, had elaborate configuration menus that… just plain didn’t work. From the OP, I’d bet on buggy/broken firmware ahead of other possibilities.
---
### Author:  [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/7 "2014-10-23T20:33:56Z")
You could mitigate that by installing [Tomato](http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php?threads/which-shibby-should-i-use.67707/) or [DD-WRT](http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Linksys_WRT54G/GL/GS/GX) and not use the stock firmware. I used DD-WRT on my WRT54 with a lot of success.
I made the mistake of buying a Cisco EA2700 without doing my homework and wow, what a POS. I’m in the process of replacing it.
---
### Author:  [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2014, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/8 "2014-10-24T08:47:32Z")
Have you tried calling 1-800-LINKSYS?
---
### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/9 "2014-10-24T17:17:03Z")
> [@gnoitall](#):
>
> Poking around [Google returns](https://www.google.com/?q=wtr54gs+web+blocking) shows a step in the instructions that you don’t mention in your sequence.
>
> Did you assign the blocking policy to specific computers in your network, or a range of network addresses? Access restrictions seem to require identifying specific IP or MAC addresses to be applicable to; if you didn’t do that, your policy applies to nothing.
>
> ETA: [Cite](http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php?threads/wrt54g-website-blocker-not-working.19902/#post-91586)
Actually, I did do that. Even mentioned it in the OP. 😉
> [@yours truly](#):
>
> I’ve also tried the above with entering my computer’s MAC address, IP address… and to no avail: I can still go to [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) even if I tell it “Block this computer from going to this site!”
---
### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/10 "2014-10-24T17:32:37Z")
Actually, looking at the settings, I have my MAC address entered, my IP address entered, and for the range of IP addresses, I put my IP address.
---
### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/11 "2014-10-24T17:52:50Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#):
>
> Have you tried calling 1-800-LINKSYS?
Yes, and because the router is beyond the warranty period, they tell me that if I want this problem solved I have to pay them for the answer.
And to say that there are communication issues with this, uh, outsourced call center is to put it mildly… when I’m told that “John” is an unusual name, it’s obvious that I’m not speaking to a person grounded in the Western tradition.
---
### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/12 "2014-10-24T19:35:23Z")
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> Have a Linksys WRT54Gs router, admin permissions, and I want to block access to some sites. […] … and to no avail: I can still go to [www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com) even if I tell it “Block this computer from going to this site!”
I had a similar router on which I wanted to limit my (then-young) kids access to a few sites. I was never successful, because, IIRC, the filtering applied only to wired clients because of some peculiarity of the firmware. This was not supposed to be how it worked, but while I could block wired connections with ease, I never could get the unit to limit wireless traffic.
---
### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/13 "2014-10-24T20:07:22Z")
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> Actually, looking at the settings, I have my MAC address entered, my IP address entered, and for the range of IP addresses, I put my IP address.
I’m sure it’s not true, but it sounds like you’re trying to protect the internet from YOU ;).
---
### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-block-access-to-specific-websites-on-my-linksys-router/702267/14 "2014-10-24T21:03:53Z")
😃
Seriously though, I’m the guinea pig so if I screw something up I won’t hear about it from, say, my wife. :eek:
Better to screw up my laptop permissions than her laptop or (the actual target) my daughter’s computer. But I don’t want to go to my 13yo and say “Honey, can you see if you can access porntube. com? Yes? Well, just forget Daddy ever asked you this and can you please delete your browsing history… at least until I ask you again?” :eek: :eek: