Block Addictive Content
How to Block Porn on a Mac in 2024
Implement a porn blocking system for more effective blocking on a Mac computer or laptop.
If you want an effective porn blocker for Mac you need to use something that is effective at identifying and blocking content while also difficult to bypass. When it comes to addictive content, it's important to use multiple layers to block porn on a Mac to prevent bypassing block rules during a moment of weakness.
The ideal blocking system for Mac adds significant friction between you seeing something and opening up a private browser window.
My approach focuses on two areas:
- Set up multiple layers of effective blocking
- Prevent compulsive bypass of your blocking system
Blocking Porn on a Mac with a DNS Firewall
The most important part of my blocking recommendations involves a more comprehensive Mac porn blocker using the Tech Lockdown DNS Content Policy.
You can get started by customizing a Content Policy to prevent access to content based on rules you set.
In addition to creating block rules, you can also enforce Google SafeSearch and even YouTube restricted mode.
This blocking approach is ideal because you can specify categories to automatically block all the associated domains:
When dealing with this type of addictive content on your Mac, it can be helpful to go even further with your category selection to preventing seeking out alternatives:
You can also block specific websites, like Twitter or YouTube by updating your DNS Content Policy to specify an app you want to block. For example, selecting the YouTube app would block youtube.com and all associated domains that the app depends on.
If, for some reason, you can't find an associated category or app that fits your website blocking needs, you could just specify a domain that you want to block:
You can connect basically any type of smartphone, computer, or even home router to a DNS Firewall.
There are two ways to connect your Mac to this firewall (I recommend doing both):
- Connect your Home Router to a DNS Content Policy so that your Mac using your home internet connection is connected to the DNS Content Policy.
- Connect your Mac to a DNS Content Policy so that websites are blocked even when connected to a hotspot of switching to another WiFi connection away from home (like hotel wifi).
Preventing Changes to your Content Policy
If you are self-managing or working with a partner, this is another scenario you need to account for when blocking porn on your Mac using a DNS Content Policy:
How do I stop myself from logging in and editing my DNS Content Policy?
Some people solve for this by making it difficult to access the account where they manage their Content Policy. However, this is risky and inhibits you from making your Content Policy more restrictive when needed.
My solution for this was to design the Tech Lockdown Content Policy to have a Locked Mode .
When you lock your Tech Lockdown profile , you'll be prevented from removing blocked websites, but you'll be able to add blocked websites easily.
Additionally, the History activity log leaves an immutible trail or breadcrumbs so you can see how your Content Policy was changed.
This added layer of accountability is an important part of a Blocking System where more than one person is involved.
Scheduling Social Media, Video Streaming, and Internet Usage
Another reason why a DNS Content Policy is a core part of my recommended Blocking System for Mac is that you can schedule internet usage: when you access certain apps or websites and even the entire internet.
Here are some scheduling considerations when trying to break adult content addiction:
- Social Media
- Video Streaming websites like YouTube
- The entire internet (at night)
It's simple to do this by first editing your DNS Content Policy to select a category, app, or domain that should be blocked.
Then, assign a schedule to that rule. You can pick days of the week and time ranges to apply the block.
I personally use this approach to limit my access to news and social media to my lunch break.
Otherwise, I always block these categories and apps.
You should also set internet shut off times at night, which is when many people tend to struggle the most with willpower.
This approach is ideal because it takes 4g/5g connections into account, not just your home Wifi.
This doesn't technically turn off your internet, but it lets you block access to everything other than what you specifically whitelist.
For example, I use security cameras at my house that need Wifi to work properly, so I add those services to my allowlist.
Handling Private Browsing and VPNs
Private browsing, through the use of VPNs and proxies or other browser privacy features, can create loopholes in a Mac porn blocking system. This is one of the most common bypass techniques you need to account for.
You can add a block rule to your DNS Content Policy with the Anonymizer category selected, which will
block VPNs and Proxies
.
Furthermore, you should implement some of the other blocking techniques that work while using a VPN .
Additionally, many people know about a web browser's private browsing features, which ensure that history isn't saved after the person finishes using the browser.
We recommend disabling private browsing features on smartphones and computers to handle some potential bypass techniques and to also add an additional layer of accountability.
This ensures that when you check the browsers History section that you'll have a more complete picture as to what was being searched for on that device and it will open the door to healthier discussions around internet usage.
Using the Hosts File and Adult Content Blocklists
The Mac's hosts file can be used to block websites or enforce safesearch on search engines. The hosts file blocking method works even with common bypass techniques.
For example, adding the following lines to your hosts file will enforce Google safesearch even if you aren't using a DNS Filter:
216.239.38.120 google.com 216.239.38.120 www.google.com
Adding the following lines will block Facebook:
0.0.0.0 facebook.com 0.0.0.0 www.facebook.com
Keep in mind that this approach is pretty limited, especially considering that you'll have to manually edit the hosts file to add new websites to your blocklists.
Learn more about how to use the hosts file to block websites .
Using Browser Extensions to Block Porn on a Mac
In addition to your DNS Content policy and hosts file, you can use browser extensions to block porn in Chrome or other web browsers. This blocking technique has a few additional benefits:
- More flexibility over how you block content
- Additional blocking on top of the other blocking methods
- Usually works even while using a VPN or Proxy
Block Pages based on Keywords
When you visit a website, you'll see the title of the page you are viewing in your browsers tab.
You can use a porn blocker browser extension to specify disallowed words, which it's a great way to block many websites without having to maintain a large list of domains.
Block Specific Searches
You can block searches containing specific keywords on Google, Youtube, or most other search portal websites.
For example, when you search for"fruit" on most websites, the URL will usually have a part like this:
?query=fruit
?q=fruit
Block Google Images
A browser extension can be used to block Google images entirely.
You can force Bing Safe Search using your DNS Content Policy, which filters also filters image search results, but you can't block image search entirely.
This is where a browser extension can provide some benefit to you if you don't want the option to search images at all.
When you search on Google images, the URL changes to something like this: https://www.google.com/search?q=apples....&tbm=isch.
If you want to block Google image search entirely, you can use a browser extension to create a block like this to target image search specifically:
*google.com/search*tbm=isch*
Better Blocking for Mac & PC
Elevate your content blocking and bypass prevention with DNS Filtering and Device Management.
Enforce Browser Extensions on a Web Browser
If you've installed browser extensions in order to hide elements on webpages or block searches, you may want to enforce those extensions so that they can't be uninstalled from your device.
Fortunately, this is possible. It does take a little bit of technical expertise, but it can be done without the need for installing another program.
Browsers
How to Enforce Browser Extensions
Normally, it's pretty easy to uninstall browser extensions that help block content. It is possible to prevent these browser extensions from being uninstalled so easily.
Tech Lockdown members will also have the option enforce browser restrictions with managed mode on their Mac devices:
You can hide the option to uninstall any extension you choose.
Block Browser Extensions on a Web Browser
On the other hand, you might also want to block extensions that allow you to bypass your restrictions. You can prevent specific extensions from being installed and even block the extensions store on your browser so that you can't download anything easily.
guide
How to Block Browser Extensions
Some browser extensions might interfere with your ability to enforce a content filter. Learning how to block these extension is an important step.
Going Further with Bypass Prevention
When it comes to dealing with addictive content online and the subsequent bad habits, I've found that a multi-layered approach is essential. Crafting effective blocking systems is what we focus on at Tech Lockdown.
However, you might need to go further in some cases with more of a focus on bypass prevention when blocking porn on a Mac.
In order to add significant friction to help break compulsive behaviors, I've written a definitive guide that goes through concepts like the following:
- Go much further than parental controls with specialized tools to enforce restrictions on a device.
- Increasing accountability and browsing transparency
- Preventing uninstall of apps and browsers extensions
- Handling common bypass methods
To help account for these unique challenges, I've created a few tools for Mac users, including both a Content Policy Enforcer and Config Preset Tool. Tech Lockdown
members
can access both of these in the dashboard under Tools > Mac.
Disable Guest Mode & User Accounts
A common bypass method involves a user signing into a computer or browser using guest mode, which often allows the person to bypass some levels of blocking.
Using our Config Presets, you can remove Guest Mode entirely and prevent guest users from logging in.
You can also remove the option to add new users to your Mac.
Force Built-in Adult Content Filtering for Safari
Safari includes a built-in adult content filter. While it's not fully customizable, it provides a solid backup layer in case other layers of filtering becomes disabled. We have a Config Preset that you can install that sets this up for you, while being locked behind a passcode.
Enforce Browser Restrictions
Several browser features can also be disabled to further prevent bypass. For example:
- Disable the option to delete browser search history.
- Disable incognito mode or private browsing.
- Force Browser SafeSearch .
- Restrict network and proxy settings.
- Disable browser profiles and guest users.
Tech Lockdown members have access to Config Preset Tools which can enforce these restrictions.
Prevent Config Presets from being removed
When you download your Config Presets, you have the option to require a password in order to remove your Config Files:
This is a huge bonus for those of us who are self-managing our own devices. Requiring a password is also locked behind profile locking on the Tech Lockdown dashboard.
To enable a password on Config Files, make sure that the Uninstall Prevented toggle is turned on:
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