Need a website blocker

[Reaperman]

My roommate keeps using my computer to get at websites I dont want him at and it's irking me.

I'd like a free program that can block websites for me, if possible.

[Modred]

Why not password your computer so he can't use it without your permission? ;)

The problem with any software blocking websites it that, should he find out about it, he can disable it. Assuming you're using Windows, he wouldn't even need whatever passphrase you use to control the application, as he could use the task manager to kill the program since it runs with your user credentials and he's using your account.

I did find this tutorial (http://cooltech.iafrica.com/swissarmy/howto/478289.htm) on blocking certain hosts. Well, you aren't really blocking hosts so much as preventing the browser from asking the DNS server for the address. The HOSTS file stores addresses for web sites that have been cached to your computer, so if you redirect the offending pages to a non-existent address or local loopback, the real website won't be looked up online. In short, it tricks the browser into thinking the pages don't exist.

I would try this editing the HOSTS file method, as he probably won't have any idea that file even exists, whereas running a program like NetNanny will probably be obvious if he realizes pages are being blocked.