There are some differences --John Landsberg touches on them-- between US and Commonwealth usage for "from" and "to".
In the US we usually say "different from" for the reason FumbleFingers gives: "different" means there's a distance between, and "from" makes that sense of distance feel stronger.
In Commonwealth countries we usually say "different to", presumably because we're at one point of the difference and thinking about the other point that's some distance away.
"Different", however, is a state, not an action.
"Stop", "prevent", "restrict" are all very definitely actions, and all imply a metaphorical pulling-away. Pulling-away requires from; it can't work with "to" because "to" decreases distance and the whole point of pulling away is to increase distance.
We might exile the cat to the bathroom with the door shut while we fold and put away the fresh laundry, but the purpose of doing it is to prevent the scoundrelly beast from jumping into the laundry basket and getting cat-hair all over the warm, laundered clothing [which, as anyone knows who supports one of those warm-hearted, funny people, is exactly what they'll do every time!].