PeerBlock
Encyclopedia
PeerBlock is a free software
firewall
application
. PeerBlock is the successor to PeerGuardian
(which is only actively maintained in linux). It blocks incoming and outgoing connections to Internet IP address
es that are included on blocklists
accessible over the Internet which may be selected by the user, but also any addresses manually specified by the user. PeerBlock mainly works in tandem with the blocklist provider iblocklist.com.
encouraged current PeerGuardian users to migrate to PeerBlock.
PeerBlock is under development by a small team of developers led by Mark Bulas. Hosting, as well as the signed driver, is funded by donations from the public. Future donations are intended to contribute to future signed drivers, hosting and to possibly rent a virtual private server
on which the team should be able to build a "real" online-update feature for future releases of PeerBlock.
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
firewall
Firewall (computing)
A firewall is a device or set of devices designed to permit or deny network transmissions based upon a set of rules and is frequently used to protect networks from unauthorized access while permitting legitimate communications to pass....
application
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
. PeerBlock is the successor to PeerGuardian
PeerGuardian
PeerGuardian is a free and open source program developed by Phoenix Labs. It is capable of blocking incoming and outgoing connections based on IP blacklists...
(which is only actively maintained in linux). It blocks incoming and outgoing connections to Internet IP address
IP address
An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...
es that are included on blocklists
Blacklist (computing)
In computing, a blacklist or block list is a basic access control mechanism that allows everyone access, except for the members of the black list . The opposite is a whitelist, which means allow nobody, except members of the white list...
accessible over the Internet which may be selected by the user, but also any addresses manually specified by the user. PeerBlock mainly works in tandem with the blocklist provider iblocklist.com.
Development
PeerBlock 1.0 is based on the same code as PeerGuardian 2 RC1 Test3 Vista version. It adds support for 32- and 64-bit Windows Vista and Windows 7. When the PeerGuardian project ended, its developer Phoenix LabsPhoenix Labs
Phoenix Labs is a software developing community founded by Tim Leonard and Ken McClelland and best known for PeerGuardian, an open-source software program optimized for use as a personal firewall on file sharing networks.-History:...
encouraged current PeerGuardian users to migrate to PeerBlock.
PeerBlock is under development by a small team of developers led by Mark Bulas. Hosting, as well as the signed driver, is funded by donations from the public. Future donations are intended to contribute to future signed drivers, hosting and to possibly rent a virtual private server
Virtual private server
Virtual private server is a term used by internet hosting services to refer to a virtual machine. The term is used for emphasizing that the virtual machine, although running in software on the same physical computer as other customers' virtual machines, is functionally equivalent to a separate...
on which the team should be able to build a "real" online-update feature for future releases of PeerBlock.
Features
Peerblock has multiple features in the latest version of the program. These include a constantly updating blocklist managed by the home site and a manager that lets you choose which lists to include in the block. The program allows for a user to turn on and off both IP and HTTP trackers as well as including a log showing the time, source, IP number, destination, and protocol of the tracker. A list of settings allows users to both customize their program's interface as well as its operations.External links
- [irc://irc.freenode.net/peerblock #peerblock] on freenodeFreenodefreenode, formerly known as Open Projects Network, is an IRC network used to discuss peer-directed projects. Their servers are all accessible from the domain name [irc://chat.freenode.net chat.freenode.net], which load balances connections by using the actual servers in rotation...
- PeerBlock Helps You Surf the Web in Secret, PC WorldPC World (magazine)PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services...
, 6 November 2009