Is Distraction Blocker safe?

1. Virus scan

The installer is uploaded to VirusTotal, which runs the file through around 70 antivirus engines at once. See the full VirusTotal report.

2. Verify your download

To be sure the file you downloaded is exactly the one published here, compare its SHA-256 fingerprint. Open PowerShell in your Downloads folder and run:

Get-FileHash .\DistractionBlockerSetup.exe -Algorithm SHA256

The result should match:

1558678FE15D08DE849538EEF90823D06F328E65A3F29E156464C2038602FAE0

Hashes for older versions are on the changelog. The installer is always downloaded from the project's GitHub Releases page, which shows the same fingerprint.

3. Why Windows says "Windows protected your PC"

When you run the installer, Windows SmartScreen may show a blue screen saying the publisher is unknown. That is not a virus warning. SmartScreen shows it for any program that isn't signed with a code-signing certificate and hasn't been downloaded by many people yet.

Distraction Blocker is built by one independent developer, and those certificates cost a few hundred dollars a year. Signing is planned as soon as the project can cover it. Until then:

• Click More info.
• Check that the file name is DistractionBlockerSetup.exe.
• Click Run anyway.

4. What the installer does

It's a standard Windows installer. It installs the app into Program Files, so Windows asks for administrator permission once. Administrator rights are also what let the blocker edit the hosts file during focus sessions.

5. What the app changes on your PC

Only while a focus session is running, and only for the things you put on your block lists:

• Websites — it adds entries to the Windows hosts file (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts), so blocked sites won't load in any browser.
• Apps — it closes the apps you chose to block if they're opened during focus time.

During breaks, everything unlocks automatically. A focus session can't be stopped or the app uninstalled until the session ends or you restart your PC — that's the whole point of the app, not a trick.

6. What it doesn't do

• No account or sign-in.
• No analytics or tracking inside the app.
• Your block lists and timer settings never leave your PC.

The website itself uses cookie-free analytics — details are in the privacy policy.

7. How to uninstall

Whenever no focus session is running:

• Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps (or Control Panel → Programs and Features).
• Find Distraction Blocker and click Uninstall.

If a focus session is running, uninstalling is blocked on purpose. Wait for the break, or restart your PC, then uninstall.