How to Block / Allow Websites on eero network through its app

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

How to Block / Allow Websites on eero network through it's app

2. Resolution

Feature OverviewWhile content filters are great, sometimes you need extra control over the sites your family can and can't view. For these moments, we've released Block and Allow Sites. Block lets you prevent particular websites from displaying on certain family members’ devices. So, if you don't mind a little social media use, but they aren't quite ready for Snapchat and Reddit, you can adjust access accordingly. On the flip side, Allow enables you to open web access to otherwise blocked websites.

Feature

What is it?

Benefit

Block Sites

The ability for eero Secure users to create a list of domains to block access to for devices connected to the network, or devices assigned to individual Profiles.

Site Access is at your fingertips

While content filters are great, sometimes you need extra control over the sites your family can and can't view. For these moments, we're releasing Block and Allow Sites. Block lets you prevent particular websites from displaying on certain family members’ devices. So, if you don't mind a little social media use, but they aren't quite ready for Snapchat and Reddit, you can adjust access accordingly. On the flip side, Allow enables you to open web access to otherwise blocked websites.

Allow Sites

The ability for eero Secure users to create a list of domains to allow access to devices connected to the network, or devices assigned to individual Profiles.

How to add to block or allow sites in the mobile app?

There are a few ways you can add a block & allow a site:

Discover tab

1. Tap on “Discover”  -> Tap on “eero Secure” -> Tap on “Block & Allow Sites”  -> 
2. Tap on  “Add Blocked Site” to add a blocked domain or tap on “Add Allowed Site” to add an allowed domain
3. A modal should pop up for you to input a domain name

1. Tap on the (i) to learn more about the domain guidelines

1. Select who the domain should be allowed for

1. Enabling “Network” will apply the domain settings to all devices on the network
2. Disabling the network toggle will allow you to apply the domain to 1 or more profiles

1. [Optional - Allow site only] Select an allow reason to help us improve the product
2. Tap on “Done” once you are ready to move forward. ”. This will bring you back to the list view with the domain added

Home tab (profile)

1. Make sure you have a profile created

1. If you don’t, tap on the blue “+” on the top right from Home and tap on “Add a Profile”

1. Tap on the profile from the home screen to view the profile detail screen
2. Tap on “Block & Allow Sites”
3. Tap on  “Add Blocked Site” to add a blocked domain or tap on “Add Allowed Site” to add an allowed domain to get started
4. A modal will pop up for you to enter a domain
5. [Optional - Allow site only]  Select an allow reason so we can better improve the product
6. Once you are ready, tap on “Done”

How do I delete a site from the block or allow a site list in the mobile app?

If you’d like to delete a site from the block or allow a site list, you can:

 Discover tab

1. Tap on “Discover”  -> Tap on “eero Secure” -> Tap on “Block & Allow Sites”  -> 
2. Tap on a site on the list you’d like to delete 
3. A modal should pop up where you can tap on “Delete Site”
4. A confirmation will ask “Are you sure you want to delete this site?”
5. Tap on “Delete Site” to confirm the changes

Home tab (profile)

1. Tap on the profile from the home screen to view the profile detail screen
2. Tap on “Block & Allow Sites”
3. Tap on a site on the list you’d like to delete
4. A modal should pop up where you can tap on “Delete Site”
5. A confirmation will ask “Are you sure you want to delete this site?”
6. Tap on “Delete Site” to confirm the changes

Domain Guidelines

Domains that are added to the block & allow site list are based on their Fully-Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), You can choose to manage the domains at every level of the hierarchy. An important thing to note is that the Allow sites always win! Allowing a site will override any content filters and block sites settings that might otherwise apply. 

• example.com - Would affect an entire domain name

• Applied: example.com, subdomain.example.com and example.com/page 
• Not applied: sample.com

• subdomain.example.com - Would affect a particular subdomain.

• Applied: subdomain.example.com and subdomain.example.com/page 
• Not applied: example.com, subdomain2.example.com

• org - Would affect all .org Top-Level Domains (TLDs)

Incorrect

Correct

Details

www.example.com

example.com

WWW. will only block the WWW subdomain. This may not have the desired effect.

https://example.com

example.com

URLs are not accepted. Entries should be Fully-Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs)

example.com/page

example.com

Pages will be removed from the domain entered and can on

*.org

org

Top-level domains may be blocked simply by their name

What is an alias?

When you add domains to the allow list, in some cases the domain has one or many Alias otherwise known as CNAMEs (Canonical Name records) associated with the domain. We display the option for you to add these CNAMEs additionally if we detect 1 or more aliases because this ensures you can properly access the domain as expected.

Why do my Block or Allow settings take time to apply?

Typically when you add a domain to your block or allow sites list or update a content filter setting it will take effect within a few seconds. However, sometimes there are factors that may cause certain sites to take longer to be blocked or allowed. 

Caching can be stored on your browser, computer, or network that can range from a few minutes to hours which will result in a slower time to apply settings. Especially if you have visited the site recently.
Here are some tips to remove the cache. 

• We recommend clearing your browser cache to see improved time to apply settings. 

Blocking popular sites and apps

When trying to block a popular site, it may require a handful of domains to achieve the desired outcome.

These sites and platforms can have a list of domains associated which may require you to add those additional domains to achieve the outcome you are looking for. In addition, you might see different behaviors across multiple device types because some devices may use unique domains based on device type.