Setting Up the IP Blocker
Protecting your online presence from malicious actors requires proactive measures, and one powerful tool at your disposal is the IP Blocker. This feature allows you to control who accesses your website by denying entry to specific IP addresses or ranges, effectively thwarting potential threats from hackers, spammers, and bots.
By implementing an IP Blocker, you're taking a significant step toward a more secure digital environment. Blocked visitors will encounter a "403 Forbidden" error, signaling that their access has been denied. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of data breaches, website defacement, and other cyberattacks.
This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to manage your IP Blocker within your Account Manager, covering the processes of adding, removing, and even completely denying access when necessary. Please click any link below to jump into a section:
- How to block an IP address
- How to remove a blocked IP address
- How to block all access by setting up a "deny from all"
- Summary
How to block an IP address
- Log in to your Bluehost Account Manager.
- Navigate to the Hosting tab.
- Click Settings for the relevant website.
- Go to the SECURITY tab.
- Locate the IP Blocker section and click MANAGE.
- Click BLOCK IP.
- Enter the IP address or IP range you wish to block.
- Confirm by clicking BLOCK.
- You'll receive a confirmation notification, and the blocked IP will appear in the list.
How to remove a blocked IP address
- Log in to your Account Manager.
- Go to the Hosting tab.
- Click Settings for the website.
- Navigate to the SECURITY tab.
- Find the IP Blocker section and click MANAGE.
- Locate the IP address you want to remove.
- Click the ellipsis and select Delete.
- Confirm the deletion in the pop-up window.
- A notification will confirm the removal.
How to block all access by setting up a "deny from all"
For extreme cases, you can block all access using the .htaccess file.
Add the following code:
deny from all
allow from 12.34.567.890 (Example of allowing your own IP)
allow from 123.456.789.000 (Example of allowing another specific IP)
- Caution: Blocking all access can lock you out.
- Important: To prevent this, ensure your own IP address is specifically allowed using the allow from directive. You can find your IP address by searching "what is my IP" on Google.
- See the article on "How to Edit Your .htaccess File for more information.
- It is generally safer to list specific IP addresses to block instead of blocking all.
Summary
By leveraging the IP Blocker feature, you've taken a crucial step toward safeguarding your online assets. Remember, proactive security measures are your best defense against evolving cyber threats. Regularly reviewing and updating your blocked IP lists and understanding when to employ more stringent measures like "deny from all" empowers you to maintain a secure and accessible online presence.