To create a child-friendly proxy server on Windows 11 that only allows access to whitelisted websites, follow these steps:
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Install a proxy server software
- Download and install a third-party proxy server software like PuTTY or Proxifier.
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Configure the proxy server software
- Launch the proxy server software and set it up as a SOCKS5 proxy server.
- Configure the proxy server to only allow connections to whitelisted websites by setting up an access control list (ACL).
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Create a whitelist of allowed websites
- List all the websites that you want to allow access to.
- Format the list as follows:
For example:<website-domain> <IP-address> <port>google.com 8.8.8.8 53 yahoo.com 8.8.4.4 53
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Configure the Windows 11 firewall
- Open the Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security.
- Inbound Rules > New Rule > Program > This program path:
- Set the rule type to "Allow the connection" and click Next.
- Select "Port" and specify the port used by the proxy server. Click Next.
- Name the rule and click Finish.
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Configure Internet Explorer or Edge
- Set the browser to use the proxy server by modifying the network settings.
- In the proxy server settings, add the websites in the whitelist as exceptions.
Now, your Windows 11 laptop will only allow access to the websites listed in the whitelist, ensuring a child-friendly browsing experience.
References:
- PuTTY: https://www.putty.org/
- Proxifier: https://www.proxifier.com/
- Configuring a SOCKS5 proxy server with PuTTY: https://www.howtogeek.com/118273/how-to-use-a-socks5-proxy-with-putty/
- Configuring a SOCKS5 proxy server with Proxifier: https://www.proxifier.com/documentation/socks5.html
- Setting up a whitelist for a SOCKS5 proxy server: https://www.howtogeek.com/197277/how-to-create-a-whitelist-for-your-socks5-proxy/
- Configuring the Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-create-inbound-rule-windows-defender-firewall-advanced-security
- Configuring Internet Explorer or Edge to use a proxy server: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-set-proxy-server-internet-explorer-and-edge