"What's the Best Way to Block an IP Address to Prevent Unwanted Access?"
Hey everyone,
I’ve been having some issues with suspicious traffic on my network, and I need to block an ip address. I tried doing it through my router settings, but it’s not sticking—am I missing something?
Like, I added the IP to the deny list, but it feels like it’s still getting through. Should I be using a firewall instead? Or maybe there’s a better way to block an ip address that I don’t know about?
Also, does anyone know if blocking an ip address actually stops all traffic from it, or just certain types? Kinda new to this, so any tips would be awesome!
Thanks in advance!
Hey! If your router's block ip address feature isn't working, try rebooting it after adding the rule. Sometimes settings don’t apply until a restart.
Also, check if your router firmware is up to date—old versions can be buggy. For a stronger fix, use a firewall like Windows Firewall (if you're on Windows) or something like pfSense for more control.
Blocking an IP should stop all traffic, but some sneaky ones might use proxies.
yo, i had the same issue! router blocks can be hit or miss. i switched to using Cloudflare’s free firewall rules to block ip address ranges. way more reliable.
also, check if your router has a "persistent" option for deny lists—some reset after a while.
if you're techy, look into iptables on Linux. it’s a beast but gets the job done.
Blocking an IP at the router level is good, but if it’s not sticking, your router might just suck (no offense).
Try a software firewall like TinyWall or GlassWire. They’re easier to manage and give you logs so you can see if the block ip address rule is actually working.
Also, double-check the IP you’re blocking—maybe it’s changing?
If you’re dealing with persistent bad traffic, blocking an ip address at the router might not be enough.
Look into setting up a Pi-hole. It’s meant for ads, but you can add custom blocklists to deny specific IPs. Plus, it logs everything so you can see what’s getting through.
Bonus: it’s super lightweight and runs on a Raspberry Pi.
Router blocks can be flaky. Have you tried blocking the IP in your host file? On Windows, it’s at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. Just add the IP and point it to 0.0.0.0.
Not as elegant as a firewall, but it’s a quick fix. Just remember to run Notepad as admin when editing!
Hey, networking nerd here. Blocking an ip address at the router is fine, but if it’s not working, your router might be applying the rule too late in the process.
Try a hardware firewall or even a cheap managed switch with ACLs (Access Control Lists). Ubiquiti gear is great for this.
Also, wireshark can help you verify if the traffic is really being blocked.
lol routers are such a pain sometimes. if you’re on windows, the built-in firewall is actually decent for blocking ip addresses.
go to Advanced Settings > Inbound Rules > New Rule > Custom > All programs > Any IP > Add the IP you wanna block.
way more reliable than my ISP’s junk router.
Thanks for all the tips, everyone! I tried the Windows Firewall method, and it seems to be working better than the router. Still seeing some weird traffic though—might give Pi-hole a shot next.
Quick question: if I block an ip address in Windows Firewall, does that override the router’s rules? Or do they work together?
Also, Cloudflare looks interesting—gonna check that out too. Appreciate the help!
For a more permanent solution, consider using a VPN or proxy to mask your own IP instead of just blocking theirs.
But if you’re set on blocking, check out OpenDNS. You can blacklist IPs there, and it’ll apply network-wide. Plus, it’s free for basic use.
