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I have a easy solution for this problem. Download zone alarm for each computer. It has a locking feature that will shut down all internet traffic. It is a free download for personal use. You can get it at www.zonelabs.com.
Posted by: Allan at April 9, 2006 2:46 AMIt would probably be more expensive than desirable but an Alpha switch (trade mark) on each machine would be the simplest and quickest way to cut each machine in or out of the curcuit. D.D.
Posted by: Donald Davis at April 9, 2006 5:31 PMIf the ADSL connection is uses PPPoE, you can disable it on the modem/router, and then create a PPPoE connection on each of your computers, you can choose to have a shortcut on the desktop for the PPPoE connection. It may sound like dial up where you manually connect before to be able to get online. WinXP comes with an inbuilt PPPoE client, refer to link for walkthrough for creating a PPPoE connectoid on WinXP
http://www.sbcis.com/article.php?item=21&f_os=winxp&action=Refresh
If you use other Windows versions try installing a free PPPoE client like RASPPPOE(http://www.raspppoe.com/).
Please note that PPPoE requires a user name and a password, most ISPs have the user name as an email id (for example: vikram@bellsouth.net) and the password would be the password for that email address.
The tech support for the ADSL ISP would be able to assist you in disabling PPPoE on the modem/router, and also on the PPPoE authentication(user name/pwd) details.
This way the Local Area Network would remain functional, and you would be able to control network traffic to the internet.
Posted by: Vikram at April 10, 2006 10:29 AMgo to SurfControl.com
Posted by: Tony at April 15, 2006 2:45 AMBoy!
I can see how this could pose serious problems for somebody using those applications (such as, I think, Dreamweaver MX 2004) that continuously "phone home" to verify ownership of the software!
Take care!
Cliff
Posted by: Cliff at April 15, 2006 11:03 AMI just want to endorse Alan's ZoneAlarm suggestion above. From www.zonelabs.com it sits quietly in the system tray using next to no resources and a simple right click brings up the menu with 'stop all internet activity' ready for action (or no action) in all of about a second and a half. ZoneAlarm can also control individual programs' access to the net so you can, for example, shut down your browsers access but still collect email. AND it's free for personal use!
Posted by: Stuart at April 16, 2006 4:26 AMSome DSL modems (like D-Link) have a feature to auto disconnect the modem
from the internet if there has been no internet activity for,say 2 minutes.And it
would automatically connect to the internet in case someone needs to access the
internet.While this does not (and probably shouldn't) stop the computer programs
from accessing the internet,what it does to help is to stop accounting for "proxy"
traffic on the line once it is auto disconnected.I myself received my first internet
bill charging me for 350 MB usage,which was reduced to 220 MB next month after i
changed this setting.
http://www.canadiancontent.net/tech/download/Agnitum_Outpost_Free.html
"Agnitum Outpost free firewall" is another firewall software you can use to stop internet activity.
An easy way to switch off all external activity is to buy a multiswitch from your electronics supplyshop , cut the wire that connects your pc with the modem and solder the multiswitch in between.
Now you can cut yor pc off by simply pushing the switchbutton. I have the switch tyripped to the monitorstand and that's about it.
Everytime i feel 'hold' by whatever website I visit I simply cut them off, shut them windows and turn the switch back on.
It works for me so maybe it works for you too.
good luck!
how can i solve a problem that comes like this:
local area networkingdeleted from the system or disabled by mistakes
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