PeerBlock - Block IP Addresses | Windows
Protecting Your Computer Beyond Antivirus
Typically, when individuals seek to safeguard their computers from external dangers, their initial action is to install antivirus or anti-malware software. These applications effectively prevent recognized viruses and malware from compromising your system.
We have previously explored numerous such programs, including Justin's compilation of the 10 top free antivirus applications and the AV choices detailed in Aibek's collection of essential PC applications.
When Standard Protection Isn't Sufficient
But what happens when antivirus and malware blockers prove inadequate? Consider a scenario where a specific individual or group is deliberately targeting you, yet their IP addresses aren't flagged on any blacklists that would trigger a response from your security software.
Let's illustrate with an example. Extensive research into Chinese corruption has led to the publication of numerous articles on the topic. Suppose unusual traffic patterns are detected using Internet logging tools, raising suspicions of malicious intent.
This irregular traffic could originate from criminals attempting to gain unauthorized access to your PC, as Guy previously explained.
Blocking Specific Traffic with PeerBlock
How can you prevent access from specific traffic sources – by blocking particular IP addresses – to your computer? While router configuration is an option, a dedicated tool like PeerBlock offers a direct solution from your PC.
PeerBlock allows for granular control over network access, enabling you to create custom blocklists and enhance your overall security posture.
It provides a method to actively defend against targeted attacks that might bypass conventional antivirus protection.
Safeguarding Your System with PeerBlock
Considering the potential risks, utilizing a tool like PeerBlock can prove remarkably beneficial. Perhaps you're connected to a network, such as one in a college residence hall, and aware that a colleague possesses hacking skills and enjoys engaging in harmless pranks by compromising your computer. Alternatively, you might reside in a region where governmental monitoring is commonplace.
PeerBlock empowers you to pinpoint recognized IP addresses, or ranges of addresses, and completely halt all communication to and from those sources. The setup process begins immediately upon installation, prompting you to select the types of traffic you wish to block.
Selecting options like spyware or advertisements causes the software to automatically download known IP ranges associated with these threats, for instance.
It’s important to remember, as Matt has noted, that advertising revenue often supports much of the free content available online. Adding custom IP ranges for blocking is a straightforward process. During setup, you'll find an option to create an IP list. These lists can be imported from various online sources, such as IPBlockList.com. Simply name the file and then integrate it into your list.
Beyond importing pre-existing lists, you also have the ability to define your own specific IP ranges. For example, I wanted to prevent all traffic originating from China. To achieve this, I clicked "Create List", assigned a name to the list, and specified a filename for storing the range.
You will then be directed to a screen where you can precisely define the IP range you wish to block all traffic from.
Since I wasn't certain of the complete IP range for China, I visited IPAddressLocation.org and utilized the Country 2 IP tool to select the country and obtain all IP ranges assigned to that region.
These ranges can then be copied and pasted into a text file with a .p2p extension, which PeerBlock can readily import. Now, on the "Customize Lists" page of the startup Wizard, I have two files listed containing all the customized IP ranges I am blocking.
Upon completing your customized lists, you'll arrive at the main screen, allowing you to monitor all activity. The central pane displays all newly blocked IP addresses, and you can click the "View History" button to review all PeerBlock activity during your absence.
The software logs not only blocked IP addresses, but also, if enabled, all allowed IP addresses. This provides a comprehensive view of all inbound and outbound traffic from your PC, helping to identify any unexpected connections. However, enabling "Allowed" logging may consume significant disk space over time.
The history feature also allows you to select a past date from the calendar to examine traffic from a specific point in time.
To verify the software's functionality, I added a specific IP range that included the IP address of my own blog. This was done by clicking the "List Manager" button and then the "Create List" button. Instead of loading a file, I manually entered the IP range.
After activating the block, I attempted to access my site in a browser. As expected, the browser reported an inability to connect, and PeerBlock confirmed that my PC's traffic to that IP address had been blocked. Excellent!
The block list also alerted me to traffic being blocked from PeerBlock’s standard malicious IP list, which I hadn’t previously been aware of. This demonstrates the software’s effectiveness in preventing potentially harmful applications or scripts from gaining access to your system.
While maintaining IP lists manually is more involved than relying solely on antivirus or anti-malware software, this application is ideal if you need to block traffic from specific individuals or organizations.
Try PeerBlock and share your experiences in the comments below.
Image credit: Orange Computer Mouse via Shutterstock
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