Block Countries

The Block Countries feature allows you to prevent access to your site from specific countries. This can be useful for managing traffic, complying with regional restrictions, or enhancing security.

How to Block Countries

1. Navigate to the Block Countries section in your Wafris Hub dashboard.

2. You’ll see a user interface with the following elements:

   • Either choose individual countries or groups of countries:
     • Africa
     • Asia
     • Australia and Oceana
     • Europe
     • North America
     • South America
3. Use the “Select” buttons to quickly choose groups of countries or manually check/uncheck individual countries.
4. After making your selection, click the “Update Blocked Countries” button to apply the changes. Changes will not apply until updated.

Important Notes

• Some compliance regulations require you to block certain sanctioned countries (ex: US FINCEN regulations require that North Korea be blocked)
• Blocking countries is a good way to reduce the overall attack surface of your site. Not doing business in Burkina Faso? Block access from there.
• Blocking countries temporarily can also help you defend your site from DDoS attacks or other attacks that often originate from certain countries.
• Be aware that some users may use VPNs or proxies to bypass country restrictions. The Block IPs by Reputation feature can help you block abusive VPN and Proxy networks.

Best Practices

• Regularly review your blocked countries to ensure the restrictions are still necessary and aligned with your business needs.
• Use this feature in conjunction with Block CIDR Ranges for more granular control over IP-based access restrictions.
• Be aware of any legal implications or service agreements that may be affected by country-based blocking.
• Consider providing alternative access methods or clear communication for users in blocked countries who may have legitimate reasons to access your site.
• Individual users or networks that have been added to the Allowed IPs list will not be blocked.