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NobleMatt · Dec 17, 2008, 02:33 PM

im trying to block access to a domain on my mac, lets say for this thread its blockme.com, i read this tutorial: http://osxdaily.com/2007/03/19/block...ying-etchosts/ and followed it but when i open /ect/host im met with a blank window like the file doesnt exist? im been a bit retarded here but where would i find the file on my HDD if i did have it? any advice?

turtle777 · Dec 17, 2008, 02:54 PM

You could use Little Snitch, if you want to limit network access for individual apps.

I recommend LS for every user, it's one of the best tools on the Mac.

-t

Chuckit · Dec 17, 2008, 03:12 PM

Could you have made the same typo in the command line that you did in your post? It's /etc/hosts.

Atheist · Dec 17, 2008, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by crazyreaper

im trying to block access to a domain on my mac, lets say for this thread its blockme.com, i read this tutorial: http://osxdaily.com/2007/03/19/block...ying-etchosts/ and followed it but when i open /ect/host im met with a blank window like the file doesnt exist? im been a bit retarded here but where would i find the file on my HDD if i did have it? any advice?

It's /etc/hosts ... not /ect/host

NobleMatt · Dec 17, 2008, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Could you have made the same typo in the command line that you did in your post? It's /etc/hosts.

our making a good point, i tried both, host which is reads in the copy and hosts which it showing in the screen shot, neither worked

ghporter · Dec 17, 2008, 04:15 PM

Are you getting the nano editor's screen?

Chuckit · Dec 17, 2008, 04:22 PM

What happens if you open /etc in the Finder?

Maflynn · Dec 17, 2008, 04:51 PM

I'm with turtle, I use LS and found it a handy app for managing access.

To Chuckit's question, you cannot easily see /etc in the Finder because its hidden by default.

Chuckit · Dec 17, 2008, 04:58 PM

Go -> Go To Folder works even with hidden folders.

NobleMatt · Dec 17, 2008, 05:02 PM

is what i get on both host and hosts

i shall see if i can find this LS, basically i need to restrict an applications access to a certain site (not safari)

Maflynn · Dec 17, 2008, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Go -> Go To Folder works even with hidden folders.

I did not know that, thanks

turtle777 · Dec 17, 2008, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by crazyreaper

i shall see if i can find this LS, basically i need to restrict an applications access to a certain site (not safari)

Yes, you want LS.

Everything else is just going to be very cumbersome, and will break down on a regular basis.

LS is basically a personal Firewall that is very highly customizable on an application level.
All other solutions (like tinkering with etc/hosts/) will block ALL applications, not only specific ones.

-t

NobleMatt · Dec 17, 2008, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Yes, you want LS.

Everything else is just going to be very cumbersome, and will break down on a regular basis.

LS is basically a personal Firewall that is very highly customizable on an application level.
All other solutions (like tinkering with etc/hosts/) will block ALL applications, not only specific ones.

-t

well tbh the only time that address we be accessed is from the one program i dont want it to be accessed from, ive got LS anyway, any tips on using it, seems a bit confusing to me, how do i restrict access?

edit: just sound the deny button

Atheist · Dec 17, 2008, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by crazyreaper

is what i get on both host and hosts

i shall see if i can find this LS, basically i need to restrict an applications access to a certain site (not safari)

Dude... you're still spelling it wrong.. it's ETC not ECT

NobleMatt · Dec 17, 2008, 06:09 PM

oh yer, my bad habit, i always use ect not etc in english, bad habit ive had from being a kid, sorry guys

ghporter · Dec 17, 2008, 06:53 PM

I just copied the command line from the linked article...

tooki · Dec 18, 2008, 01:59 AM

Originally Posted by crazyreaper

oh yer, my bad habit, i always use ect not etc in english, bad habit ive had from being a kid, sorry guys

"etc" is short for Latin et cetera ("and so on"). It's not "ect" in any language.

NobleMatt · Dec 18, 2008, 04:49 AM

i know, i struggle with spelling, english, gramma ect, par of my dyslexia is that i tent to read things wrong, etc as ect for example

red rocket · Dec 18, 2008, 08:02 AM

We understand.

The reason what you’re doing isn’t working, is that there normally is no ‘ect’ folder in OS X. The screenshot you posted tells us that you have created this folder, along with the ‘hosts’ file (which is something that always happens when you edit files with command line text editors: if the file or the parent folder doesn’t already exist, the editor creates it), but that file is never, ever, going to get read by OS X, because the system actually only looks in the ‘etc’ folder. In an ideal world, OS X would notice your dyslexia and compensate, but we’re not quite there yet, unfortunately.

Just paste this, meanwhile:

sudo nano /etc/hosts

This will start up the nano editor, and open the correct hosts file for editing.

NobleMatt · Dec 18, 2008, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by red rocket

In an ideal world, OS X would notice your dyslexia and compensate, but we’re not quite there yet, unfortunately.

lol

im giving LS ago atm anyway, am i correct in thinking with LS that if i dont want to restrict an applications access i can just click ok with the settings it has provided? it seems to have done the job for what i want atm

davidbk1 · Dec 18, 2008, 02:30 PM

When the little snitch dialog comes up asking about a new application, if you want it to be unrestricted, click forever at the top, select any connection from the list, and finally press the allow button.

turtle777 · Dec 18, 2008, 06:41 PM

Sorry, but I recommend to RTFM for LS, FTW.

-t