Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    How to block YouTube in PFSense

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Firewalling
    26 Posts 21 Posters 86.3k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • KOMK
      KOM
      last edited by

      Except YouTube access is https and it is a little hard to block with Squid…

      Since when?  Squid has no problem with HTTPS if you configure it properly eg. in explicit mode with WPAD instead of transparent mode.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • N
        noriel
        last edited by

        @jonfil0130:

        Hi,

        I'd like to ask some help from you guys on how to block youtube using pfsense. I tried to use Alias and put in all the IPs of youtube i think more or less 20 IPs then created a rule on LAN pointing to my Block youtube alias but it didn't work. Any suggestion pls. Thanks in advance.

        Hi!

        I'm able to block youtube with pfsense and OpenDNS help.. so if it's okay for you to use openDns alongside your pfsense…your problem is solved.

        I can share here the link of the guide if needed

        CLICK ME for some pfSense basic but useful guides for newbies like me

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • ?
          Guest
          last edited by

          I can share here the link of the guide if needed

          Would be nice to here from you.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • N
            noriel
            last edited by

            here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ6sEWRmvz4 If you guys have a better solution, you can share it too… Thanks

            CLICK ME for some pfSense basic but useful guides for newbies like me

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • G
              giridhar.daida
              last edited by

              Hi,

              Is there any option to block YouTube and Facebook (HTTPs sites) without OpenDNS and third party applications, only pf sense device?

              We are not suppose to use third party application…

              Also is there option keyword blocking?

              Thanks,
              Giridhar Daida.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • D
                doktornotor Banned
                last edited by

                @giridhar.daida: Helps to read the thread before posting.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • H
                  Harvy66
                  last edited by

                  Block external DNS and set DNS to resolve youtube.com to 127.0.0.1

                  Keyword blocking, can't be done without a proxy, PFSense is not a proxy so you need 3rd-party software.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • jahonixJ
                    jahonix
                    last edited by

                    @Harvy66:

                    … resolve youtube.com to 127.0.0.1

                    Then users start using yt.ca  .fr  .de  .co.uk  … you get the picture.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • I
                      itthelip
                      last edited by

                      you can block any site using blacklist in proxy server.

                      Path :- Services- Proxy server- ACLs- blacklist

                      Enter Website name in Blacklist then no one will have access to particular site

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • M
                        moscato359
                        last edited by

                        @jahonix:

                        @Harvy66:

                        … resolve youtube.com to 127.0.0.1

                        Then users start using yt.ca  .fr  .de  .co.uk  … you get the picture.

                        If I go to any of those, it redirects me to youtube.com

                        This is the .de version's URL
                        https://www.youtube.com/?hl=de&gl=DE

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • M
                          mcdiesel
                          last edited by

                          Here is another method, using new features in pfsense's dns resolver unbound

                          https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=131833.msg725378#msg725378

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • C
                            chhinfo
                            last edited by

                            First of all thank to pFsense!
                            It's just perfect. Right now we have pFsense box hand dhcp to 15 UniFi router for our company! We just block Facebook & Youtube (Android App + iOS App)!
                            I use pFsense 2.2.6-RELEASE (amd64) (I am not sure about other newer version).

                            1 - Firewall > Rules > (Interface You wanna block)

                            2 - Create Rule to allow the interface can talk to DNS:
                                (for Whom don't know how to create:
                                          action = pass
                                          TCP/IP Version = IPv4 _Protocol = tcp/udp
                                          Source = Staff net {My interface name: Staff, you have your own}
                                          Destination = Staff Address
                                          Destination port = DNS 53
                                          Check => Log packets that are handled by this rule)

                            3 - Create Rule for Managers going to any where:
                                (for Whom don't know how to do:
                                    => Firewall > Aliases > add new Aliase:
                                          Name = Managers
                                          Hosts > Add new entry > 10.11.11.253              <= My Staff net = 10.11.11.0/24, and not surprisingly IP 253 is mine
                                    => Firewall > Rule:
                                          action = pass
                                          TCP/IP Version = IPv4
                                          Protocol = tcp/udp
                                          Source = Alias:Managers
                                          Destination = Any
                                          Destination port = Any
                                          Check => Log packets that are handled by this rule)

                            4 - Create Rule for blocking Facebook:
                                    => Firewall > Aliases > add new Aliase:
                                          Name = facebookApp
                                          Hosts > Bulk import from Aliases list > facebookApp.txt                    <= File in the attachment
                                    => Firewall > Rule:
                                          action = block
                                          TCP/IP Version = IPv4
                                          Protocol = tcp/udp
                                          Source = Staff net
                                          Destination = Aliases: facebookApp
                                          Destination port = Any
                                          Check => Log packets that are handled by this rule)

                            5 - Create Rule for Staffs accessing allowed Website

                            6 - Create Rule for Managers accessing Google:                          <= this is how youtube app got block

                            • My company not allowed Google Search for users, that why Managers group is the target.
                                      => Firewall > Traffic Shaper > Layer7 > Create new l7 rules group
                                            Check = Enable/Disable layer7 Container
                                            Name = youtubeBlock
                                            Add entry = httpvideo > action = block
                                      => Firewall > Aliases > add new Aliase:
                                            Name = googleApp
                                            Hosts > Bulk import from Aliases list > googleApp.txt                    <= File in the attachment
                                      => Firewall > Rule:
                                            action = block
                                            TCP/IP Version = IPv4
                                            Protocol = tcp/udp
                                            Source =  Aliases: Managers
                                            Destination = Aliases: googleApp
                                            Destination port = Any
                                            Check => Log packets that are handled by this rule)
                                            Advanced features = Layer7: youtubeBlock

                            7 - Create Rule to deny anything:
                                    => Firewall > Rule:
                                          action = block
                                          TCP/IP Version = IPv4
                                          Protocol = tcp/udp
                                          Source = any
                                          Destination = any
                                          Destination port = Any
                                          Check => Log packets that are handled by this rule)

                            8 - Test it on android and iOS

                            Good luck blocking youtube app @@

                            facebookApp.txt
                            googleApp.txt_

                            C L N 4 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • GertjanG
                              Gertjan
                              last edited by

                              Blocking "youtube" - or any other big organization, just watch http://www.wikihow.com/Access-YouTube-at-School to see the start of what might be an answer.

                              Blocking DNS requests won't stand long, as any user can list up in his own host file all the "yahoo" domaine names.

                              edit : I didn't try what @ajchhai proposed - I saw his reply after posting …

                              No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
                              Edit : and where are the logs ??

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • B
                                bjokib
                                last edited by

                                I am going the DNS route. For now, the kids won't be able to change the dns server on their device… yet.

                                Thanks for the suggestions though.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • C
                                  Chinojames @chhinfo
                                  last edited by

                                  @chhinfo hey brother need your help. i want to use scheduling on my pfsense. i want to block facebook, instagram, and youtube on a certain time and only they can access facebook, instagram and youtube for one hour and after that block again. I tried it but only facebook and instagram works, not youtube because of so many ip address they have. I tried also using squid, pfblocker, and openDNS, but the problem is, it will permanently block. Hope you can help me. Thanks 😁

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • L
                                    LVNona @chhinfo
                                    last edited by

                                    @chhinfo Hi! Yes I also very interested how you can block by schedule?

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • L
                                      LVNona @chhinfo
                                      last edited by

                                      @chhinfo said in How to block YouTube in PFSense:

                                      First of all thank to pFsense!
                                      It's just perfect. Right now we have pFsense box hand dhcp to 15 UniFi router for our company! We just block Facebook & Youtube (Android App + iOS App)!
                                      I use pFsense 2.2.6-RELEASE (amd64) (I am not sure about other newer version).

                                      1 - Firewall > Rules > (Interface You wanna block)

                                      2 - Create Rule to allow the interface can talk to DNS:
                                          (for Whom don't know how to create:
                                                    action = pass
                                                    TCP/IP Version = IPv4 _Protocol = tcp/udp
                                                    Source = Staff net {My interface name: Staff, you have your own}
                                                    Destination = Staff Address
                                                    Destination port = DNS 53
                                                    Check => Log packets that are handled by this rule)

                                      3 - Create Rule for Managers going to any where:
                                          (for Whom don't know how to do:
                                              => Firewall > Aliases > add new Aliase:
                                                    Name = Managers
                                                    Hosts > Add new entry > 10.11.11.253              <= My Staff net = 10.11.11.0/24, and not surprisingly IP 253 is mine
                                              => Firewall > Rule:
                                                    action = pass
                                                    TCP/IP Version = IPv4
                                                    Protocol = tcp/udp
                                                    Source = Alias:Managers
                                                    Destination = Any
                                                    Destination port = Any
                                                    Check => Log packets that are handled by this rule)

                                      4 - Create Rule for blocking Facebook:
                                              => Firewall > Aliases > add new Aliase:
                                                    Name = facebookApp
                                                    Hosts > Bulk import from Aliases list > facebookApp.txt                    <= File in the attachment
                                              => Firewall > Rule:
                                                    action = block
                                                    TCP/IP Version = IPv4
                                                    Protocol = tcp/udp
                                                    Source = Staff net
                                                    Destination = Aliases: facebookApp
                                                    Destination port = Any
                                                    Check => Log packets that are handled by this rule)

                                      5 - Create Rule for Staffs accessing allowed Website

                                      6 - Create Rule for Managers accessing Google:                          <= this is how youtube app got block

                                      • My company not allowed Google Search for users, that why Managers group is the target.
                                                => Firewall > Traffic Shaper > Layer7 > Create new l7 rules group
                                                      Check = Enable/Disable layer7 Container
                                                      Name = youtubeBlock
                                                      Add entry = httpvideo > action = block
                                                => Firewall > Aliases > add new Aliase:
                                                      Name = googleApp
                                                      Hosts > Bulk import from Aliases list > googleApp.txt                    <= File in the attachment
                                                => Firewall > Rule:
                                                      action = block
                                                      TCP/IP Version = IPv4
                                                      Protocol = tcp/udp
                                                      Source =  Aliases: Managers
                                                      Destination = Aliases: googleApp
                                                      Destination port = Any
                                                      Check => Log packets that are handled by this rule)
                                                      Advanced features = Layer7: youtubeBlock

                                      7 - Create Rule to deny anything:
                                              => Firewall > Rule:
                                                    action = block
                                                    TCP/IP Version = IPv4
                                                    Protocol = tcp/udp
                                                    Source = any
                                                    Destination = any
                                                    Destination port = Any
                                                    Check => Log packets that are handled by this rule)

                                      8 - Test it on android and iOS

                                      Good luck blocking youtube app @@

                                      facebookApp.txt
                                      googleApp.txt_

                                      Hi where is can get facebookapp.txt and googleapp.txt?
                                      Links doesnt work
                                      Thanks

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • F
                                        fatt
                                        last edited by

                                        hi, @chhinfo could you please reattach the aliases for facebookApp.txt and googleApp.txt because link doesnt work.

                                        thanks

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • N
                                          novice.pfsense @chhinfo
                                          last edited by

                                          @chhinfo
                                          Thank you so much for your contribution in such detail.
                                          Although I have not tried your presented solution but I understand that it would be quite helpful for a Novice user like me. Kindly re-attach your following files:
                                          facebookApp.txt
                                          googleApp.txt_

                                          Thank you once again.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.