Block (Restrict) websites on Airport Extreme

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Block (Restrict) websites on Airport Extreme

Hello all,

I have a brand spanking new Airport Extreme, which is installed and working perfectly. However, I wish to place it in a small museum to allow visitors access the museum web site wirelessly. The problem is that I want to restrict access to the museum website only. Then, when a visitor opens a web browser, and is in range of the airport extreme, they will be directed to the museum website, and are only able to browse the museum collection. Is there a way to restrict the IP addresses or domains that users can access through the airport extreme?

For example, a user could look type www.mac.com but will be directed to www.museumireland.ie?

Any help is much appreciated.

Regards,

j

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.4.10), Airport Extreme

Posted on Sep 7, 2007 1:05 PM

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Answer 1

nickyc3

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Sep 8, 2007 4:42 AM in response to jimmyjoejoe

As far as I know Airport Extreme doesn't allow you to block sites directly. There are several other avenues you might want to explore:

1) Find and install a web browser that has a "kiosk" mode. This mode allows you set up the machine only for use as a web browser, and block users from accessing the system. Some browsers with kiosk mode enable you to blacklist or safelist sites - in this way, you could create a terminal that can only access your site.

2) Turn on content filtering using your cable modem/router. Most cable modems/routers now have the ability to filter and restrict content in the admin settings. So whilst Airport doesn't let you do it, whatever connection the Airport is tied-in to may well do.

3) Run a local copy of the site, and disconnect the machine from the internet. Set up a local web server on the machine, and simply disconnect it from the net. This will have certain disadvantages, of course, like having to update the local copy when you update the remote one, but it's probably the best way of ensuring that no-one uses the machine for free unfiltered internet access.

Since you don't state the setup of the actual machine or modem, I can't give any more info I'm afraid, but hope that helps to get you thinking about the options!

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Answer 2

jimmyjoejoe Author

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Sep 8, 2007 6:53 AM in response to nickyc3

Cheers Nicky,

Unfortunetly Kiosk mode will not work, as I want to allow as anyone with a WIFI device access the website. However, I'll investigate the second option and see can I turn filtering on, on the orignal DSL router. I am unable to run a local copy, which is really the ideal soultion, because I use an SMS provider also and need an internet connection to access the SMS. Thanks for your thorough response.

Regards,

j

Message was edited by: jimmyjoejoe

Message was edited by: jimmyjoejoe

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