How to auto-redirect browser URL to another page?

google-chrome internet-explorer-9 hosts-file firefox

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One of the easier way is to use the hosts file, it's easy to circumvent if you know the IP of the site you want to go to. Another option is http://www.opendns.com/.

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binarysolo

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

binarysolo almost 2 years

What I want: When users type a certain URL, say, reddit.com or cracked.com, that they get automatically redirected to another site... say khanacademy.org or something.

I am volunteering at my local library setting up some computers and they wanted to "encourage" the kids to visit certain sites over other ones. Ethics aside, I was wondering how I should go about implementing this other than a ban in the hosts.txt file.

PS -- Did I say I was a monster for banning Reddit from kids? Yes yes, sorry again... just think of me preventing kids from making more inane rage comics, novelty accounts, and pun threads to fill the site. ಠ_ಠ
- 100rabh almost 13 years
  
  If you're looking at a Chrome extension here's my answer to a similar question superuser.com/q/284110/4377
Arjan almost 13 years

I couldn't find information about redirecting on OpenDNS. (Even then: it's a nice solution for schools, even more if one can set up something in a router, to outsmart the kids!)
Julian almost 13 years

@Arjan - I'm pretty sure you can redirect a url when you block it.
binarysolo almost 13 years

Hrm, so does it have to be IP dependent? Say if I want to direct to a specific page instead of just the base site?
Julian almost 13 years

@Binary - Yes for a quick solution I'm afraid so.
binarysolo almost 13 years

Oh wells... for a more complicated solution, is there a way to direct it to a more specific page? (Say a Terms of Use page in a site?) That was the library's first request, but understandably I'll opt for something easy if the harder option is a LOT more work.
Julian almost 13 years

@Binary - The correct way to handle this is to set up a proxy server for the library. Then you have full control of all the traffic. But take a better loo at the free openDNS solution, it might be enough.
binarysolo almost 13 years

Okay -- yeah I'll prolly start with the hosts.txt file and Google up the correct way to handle it. :)
reverload over 12 years

for some reason google chrome ignores your hosts file; at least under windows ...
Ryan over 4 years

I got this error: The 'webRequest' API cannot be used with event pages.