The internet has changed the way we get information and entertainment. The web is comprised of thousands of different and sometimes dangerous websites. In order to prevent the use of illegal files, the Government has blocked access to certain websites. Many internet service providers (ISP) are bound by a legal order to restrict access to some websites in the UK to prevent illegal practices and at the same time protect the end users. However, the list of blocked websites gives us a sense of what is done to safeguard the users while at the same time sparking discussions on censorship and the freedom of information. The entire idea behind these blocks is the general tendency to keep the web environment safe for all users.
List of the top blocked websites in the UK
Many websites working in the UK get easily criticized and end up being blocked for one reason or another. The services that could get blocked include file-sharing websites, but also TV streaming services. Below is the list of frequently restricted websites and a context why they could get restricted:
The Pirate Bay (thepiratebay.org)
This site was blocked in May 2012 because it promotes the unauthorized distribution of copyright material.
KickassTorrents (kickasstorrents.to)
It was blocked in March 2013 for its massive amount of copyright infringement and its legal conflicts around the world
123Movies (123movies.to)
Blocked routinely, 123Movies’s pirate film and TV streaming service was one of the largest of its kind.
SolarMovie (solarmovie.to)
A site that, along with many others, was frequently blocked by MPAA court orders, it made Hollywood productions available for free streaming.
Sci-Hub (sci-hub.se)
Best known for distributing academic papers without the publisher’s permission, Sci-Hub’s activity is often rendered ineffective by ISP blocks to copyright-infringing activity in academic publishing.
RARBG (rarbg.to)
RARBG is a common torrent portal blocked by authorities for spreading copyrighted material, such as movies, software and music.
Putlocker (putlocker.is)
Putlocker, an infamous pirated streaming site, is regularly blocked by copyright holders.
Torrentz (torrentz.eu)
This torrent meta-search engine is blocked for allowing users to search and download copyrighted material from torrent sites.
YTS (yts.mx)
YTS, a highly popular torrent site notorious for hosting pirated movies at a high-quality resolution, is regularly shut down as ISPs block it in the name of persistent copyright infringement.
EZTV (eztv.re)
EZTV, whose site has been used to distribute episodes of TV shows, gets blocked all the time for distributing copyrighted television content without the permission of the networks.
FMovies (fmovies.to)
The site FMovies streams pirated movies and TV shows on a daily basis. It has been banned by ISPs due to copyright issues in many countries.
Couchtuner (couchtuner.show)
Couchtuner was blocked by a number of ISPs for illegally streaming copyrighted TV shows and movies, making it a favorite target of copyright owners.
IsoHunt (isohunt.to)
IsoHunt, once the top torrent site in the US, was blocked for allowing piracy of copyrighted materials and shut down by court order.
Demonoid (demonoid.is)
Demonoid, a popular torrent site, is regularly banned over fears that the site helps people find pirated movies, music, and software.
PrimeWire (primewire.ag)
Routinely pirate sites like PrimeWire have been banned by ISPs for streaming copyrighted movies and TV programmes without the necessary licenses and/or permissions of the rights holders.
WatchSeries (watchserieshd.tv)
WatchSeries, an illegal streaming site for TV series, gets blocked by ISPs for breaching copyright on a near-daily basis.
Popcorn Time (popcorntime.app)
Popcorn Time, the ‘Netflix for pirates’, is blocked for allowing users access to stream pirated movies and TV shows.
ExtraTorrent (extratorrent.cc)
The prominent torrent site ExtraTorrent was disabled after a successful mass-scale copyright infringement of movies, music and more.
Gomovies (gomovies.sx)
The film streaming site Gomovies, known for facilitating access to illegally distributed movies, has been blocked many times for hosting copyrighted content without authorization.
Movie4k (movie4k.to)
Movie4k, which streams pirated movies and TV shows, is often blocked for copyright infringement violations.
Common reasons for blocking websites in the UK
Knowing why these sites are blocked in the first place can help you to understand UK regulations more fully, and there are many factors at play:
Copyright infringement
Sites such as The Pirate Bay or KickassTorrents are often blocked for allowing people to illegally distribute copyrighted material. Remedies under laws such as the Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988 give the authorities tools that enable them to block further distribution of digital works.
Explicit content
Websites such as Imgur have sometimes been suspended for hosting pornographic material that ISPs have flagged up. Such actions seek to protect users, notably children, from exposure to potentially harmful material, while making sure the internet is a safe space for all, with acceptable levels of content.
Regulatory compliance
Websites run by sanctioned organizations are blocked as a matter of legal obligation. For example, some sites deemed related to Russian sanctions are now blocked in line with global sanctions legislation – the UK and global legislation require the government to apply sanctions via economic or political means.
File sharing
Services such as FileServe and NewzBin2 were blocked because they contravened copyright law. They made it easy to copy and distribute content without permission or payment, hence they were breaking intellectual property law and that was a clear-cut case where the authorities would take action quickly, and judge’s orders would be served on the ISPs to restrict websites.
Security concerns
There are some websites blocked to prevent users from malware and phishing attacks. ISPs will take action to protect network integrity and user security so that they can reduce the likelihood of cyberattacks, identity theft, and other criminal activities to protect the data.
How to use the list to block websites
Blocking is a good way to make sure you don’t lose your concentration in case these sites suddenly become available or unrestricted. It is all about keeping on task and staying productive.
BlockSite is a great tool for setting up and managing a block list, making it easy to restrict access to the websites you choose. This step-by-step guide will show you how to block the UK websites listed above using this tool’s Block List feature:
Go to the BlockSite Extension icon on your desktop. Finding the various settings and features is easy thanks to a convenient layout.
Go to the Block List feature and enter the URLs of the websites you want to block. It should be fairly obvious how to move through the process.
Enter the URL of the website that you’d like to restrict access to and decide whether you want to block it permanently or on schedule. Thus, you decide whether you want to block the website at work during office hours, on the weekend or all the time.
Your blocks are now enabled. These changes will be applied to all browsers, covering you across all your devices where BlockSite is also installed.
Say goodbye to blocked sites in the UK
The thing is, there won’t ever be any complete list of websites blocked in the UK, because every day new sites join the forbidden list, and the only way to be productive and stay focused in your daily work is to manually block all the sites that are not important to you. BlockSite, simply put, is changing your computer and device into an instrument of work and productivity.
It is capable of blocking hundreds of sites at once, and has many features for custom blocking, making it the ultimate companion to help you get through the Berlin wall of censorship that is the UK, while maintaining the flow of your work both personally and professionally. Take your time back and reduce the noise with BlockSite. And if you’re looking for more websites to block you can always check out our list of the most blocked websites in the world!
FAQs
What types of websites are commonly blocked in the UK?
File-sharing and streaming sites containing stolen content, or explicit sites, are regularly blocked. Websites seemingly containing security threats or failing to comply with regulations are also targeted.
Can I access a blocked website in the UK legally?
Trying to reach these sites is illegal if the content is blocked for copyright or some other reason. Make sure that you consider the legal side before you go around a block. It is better to obtain the content by legal means than to obtain it by exfiltrating the data.
How can I know if a website is blocked?
In most cases, access to such a site redirects users to a page explaining why the site is blocked and which court order authorized the blocking. This transparency enables users to understand why a site was blocked and by whom.
How do ISPs block websites?
ISPs also use techniques like IP address blocking, domain name system (DNS) filtering, deep packet inspection and URL blacklisting to block access to particular websites. These are in response to a law or policy.
Are all blocked websites harmful?
Not always. Some might get blocked inadvertently because of heavy-handed filtering standards or state censorship, but most of the sites being targeted are involved with illegal, harmful or forbidden activities.
