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How to use BeeThink IP Blocker?

IP Blocker programs are widely used for protecting websites and P2P users. BeeThink IP Blocker is  convenient IP blocking software that makes primary users to archive IP blocking goal easily. This article introduces how to use BeeThink IP Blocker to ban IP addresses.

First of all, users need to download BeeThink IP Blocker from BeeThink website. After a short download, the BeeThink IP Blocker installation file will be saved onto your computer. Double click the downloaded file and then the installation process will begin.

Installing BeeThink IP Blocker

Before installation, it is suggested that users completely remove the previous versions of BeeThink IP Blocker. For most steps in the installation, just simply click the 'Next' buttons to continue. There are only two steps need to be carefully configured. One is 'Windows service setting', another is 'Filter exception rules setting'. Please tick the check boxes if you want to choose the options.

1. Windows Service Setting

This option means BeeThink IP Blocker can run as a Windows service. A Windows service can be automatically started when the computer boots and run in the background as long as Windows is running, can be paused and restarted, and do not show any user interface. These features make Windows services ideal for use on a server or whenever you need long-running functionality that does not interfere with other users who are working on the same computer. 

2. Filter Exceptional Rules Setting

There is only one exceptional rule can be configured during BeeThink IP Blocker installation. The exception rule is 'Always allow HTTP and HTTPS protocols', which is designed for P2P users who want to visit web pages while P2P programs download files. More exceptional rules can be set after installation.

Once the above two settings are applied, the options will be effected to all users on the computer which is installed BeeThink IP Blocker. After installation, it is recommended to restart the computer.

Configuring IP Blocking List

Before the first time running BeeThink IP Blocker, there is a wizard dialog instructing users to set up IP blocking list. The default IP blocking lists come from I-Blocklist.

If users want to add their own IP blocking update lists, they may click 'Continue' button to show 'List Update Management' dialog. In this dialog, users can add, modify, remove IP blocking lists and even configure the IP blocking lists to be automatic updated periodically.

Using BeeThink IP Blocker

After the wizard dialogs, users will be presented with the BeeThink IP Blocker main dialog, which is showed as follows. As you can see, network packets are well organized and displayed in the form of network sessions. BeeThink defines all network packets passing through two specific computers (two IP addresses) belong to one session. In the main dialog, the local IP addresses and remote IP addresses are displayed as well as outgoing bytes and incoming bytes. If an IP address is blocked, a red circle displays at the front of the session. If an IP address is allowed, a green circle shows. In addition, BeeThink IP Blocker displays DNS information of each session, which is extremely useful for those who wants to know the detailed information of the remote IP addresses, such as website URLs.

1. Block IP Addresses

BeeThink IP Blocker makes it easy to block IP addresses. The following image shows the 'IP List' dialog. There are two work modes used in BeeThink IP Blocker, which are 'Block' mode and 'Allow' mode. With the 'Block' mode, each network packet that matches the IP block list will be blocked. With the 'Allow' mode, only the packets that match the IP allow list will be allowed.

Users can input single IP address or IP address ranges in the 'IP Address Editor' dialog.

In order to make IP blocking easy, BeeThink IP Blocker has a feature that allows user to right-click any network session. In the main window, a popup menu displays if any network session is right-clicked. Users choose the proper menu item to block or unblock the remote IP addresses.

2. Importing IP List

Users can import IP list file by clicking 'Import IP List' button in the main window. BeeThink IP Blocker supports a variety range of IP list formats, such as PeerGuardian IPfilter file, Emule IPfilter file, and Apache's .htaccess file. For website masters, BeeThink IP Blocker is designed for Internet servers to ban country IP addresses via Apache's .htaccess files. Internet servers include HTTP servers, mail servers, FTP servers, VOIP PBX and SIP servers and so on. For P2P users, BeeThink IP Blocker blocks 'bad' IP addresses by using PeerGuardian IPfilter file and Emule IPfilter file.

3. Configuring TCP/IP protocols Based Rules

BeeThink IP Blocker can be used as a simple firewall and the firewall rules are based on IP address, port, protocol, and other factors.

4. Enabling Exceptional Rules

Exception rules are performed in spite of the current IP blocking list and rules. It is particularly useful for those who want to allow specific TCP/IP protocols. By enabling exceptions, users can allow (or block) special protocols such as HTTP, FTP, SMTP and even a special TCP/IP protocol.

5. Options

There are several options available for users to configure BeeThink IP Blocker.

It is convenient to record blocked network traffic, allowed network traffic, or all network traffic. The recorded file can be used as Internet server log files to analyze network traffic.

BeeThink IP Blocker can run as a Windows service, which is particular important for website managers.

6. Viewing Network Traffic Detail

If users want to know more about network traffic, such as TCP ports and packet content, they can double-click a network session and then the 'Traffic Detail Viewer' dialog shows.

BeeThink IP Blocker lets users to block any IP addresses conveniently. It can be used for both website managers and P2P users. BeeThink IP Blocker works under NDIS (Network Driver Interface Specification) layer, which is the first layer that incoming network traffic passes through. Since NDIS filtering occurs at such a low level, BeeThink IP Blocker can filter each incoming and outgoing network packet.