how to block someone from website?

[bluqueen77]

I was wondering how to go about blocking someone from my website (if it's even possible.) I'm thinking it must have something to do with locating the offending IP address in my site usage data, and then writing some sort of script or something to block that IP address from accessing pages on my site. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

[the tree]

People IP addresses reset everytime they connect to thier ISP, if you prevent one particular IP from entering the site then the next person to get that IP might try to visit your site and be refused.

You could set a cookie that wouldn't allow returns but anyone who is even slightly tech savvy would be able to bypass that.

In short, it's not really possible.

[philaweb]

If you're on a Unix based server it is quite easy to block a certain IP from visting your website using a .htaccess file.

Some computers uses fixed IP's (servers or advanced broadband users), which makes it easy to block known spambots or searchbots.

Some computers uses multiple (changeable) IP's and cannot be blocked for certain. It is possible though to block an entire blok of IP's. IP numbers are arranged in four divisions, like: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
So, if you know the ISP and it's range of IP's you can block the entire ISP (taking off some bloks, like: xxx.xxx.xxx or xxx.xxx), and be sure the person can't access your website using that ISP.

But, you can't be sure the person wont visit you via someone elses computer or wireless (mobile) ISP's.

[bluqueen77]

I know that there would certainly be ways around any blocking mechanism, but just curious as to what the most "obvious" way to block someone might be.

How would the .htacess file be configured? Or, can you recommend a good resource for learning more about this?

Thanks!!

[philaweb]

It would be quite easy to Google for more info on this.

The Apache server is quite powerfull and new settings can always be discovered. A good place to begin is the guide to URL rewriting (http://www.slettes.dk/redirect_to/?url_name=http://httpd.apache.org/docs/misc/rewriteguide.html).

[ray326]

The best way to block an unwanted user is to configure the server require all visitors to authenticate to get access to any point in the site.

[BuezaWebDev]

Banning specific people will become a lot more difficult as soon as we move over to IPv6. :)

128bit addresses...Hrmm... Too bad it won't happen for a very long time. It makes network companies scared because they have to re-engineer their hardware (servers, routers, etc).

[Robert Wellock]

IPv6 is already around though not used mainstream.

[BuezaWebDev]

Every phone will have an IP address once IPv6 becomes mainstream.

Guess what that means...more phone hackers :( Poor Paris Hilton, lol. Her phone got hacked, and that's only the beginning of phone hacking. :(

Just the other day, my friend's phone said someone was trying to connect to his phone. :|