Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Can you tell me of a way that I can stop internet activity on a computer? I am an American living in Russia and I have ADSL but they charge me by my traffic. Norton Internet Security has a feature to "block internet activity" which stops all in and out traffic. That way I am assured that nothing is going on over the web. But, we have three computers networked and I do not have Norton on each because of cost.
I would like to be able to either: 1) stop internet activity per computer (like a turn off switch for Internet), or 2) stop any activity at the modem level
Do you know of a way? I know I could turn off the modem, but looking for something a bit more practical at the user level.
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I have a few ideas, but to me none of them are really any more practical than turning off the modem. Let me throw those ideas out, and perhaps they'll be appropriate for your situation, or perhaps a reader will suggest a more elegant solution.
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If you don't mind turning off all network activity, local or internet, then my approach would be to disable and reenable your network adapter as needed. Right click on the network connection (usually "Local Area Connection") in Control Panel's Network Connection section, and select Disable to turn off network activity, or Enable to restore it. I often do this with my wireless connection to avoid accidental connections in public areas.
Along those same lines, you could pull the network cable from each of the computers, or from your switch or router and achieve the same effect.
If you want to maintain a local area network while still disabling the internet, but without pulling cables, disabling network adapters or turning off power switches, another even less simple approach, would be to:
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Install an additional network protocol on all machines, such as SPX/IPX
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Enable or disable TCP/IP on the network adapters as needed to restrict, or allow, internet traffic. Right click on the network connection in Control Panel's Network Connection section, click on Properties and enable or disable the TCP/IP item.
This relies on the fact that only TCP/IP traffic travels on the internet. If you have no TCP/IP traffic, you'll not be communicating on the internet. Other protocols remain only on your local network, and support most normal file sharing operations.
Yet another approach would be to reconfigure your router or DLS modem on the fly. Using their web interface, presumably you could "break" it's configuration to communicate on the internet, or "fix" it when you need to resume internet access.
To be honest I don't like any of these solutions, and would probably end up pulling the plug on the modem, as you've been doing.
Perhaps a reader will suggest a solution I haven't thought of.
Article C2616 - April 8, 2006 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
November 2, 2010 9:22 PM
it's more easy to stop accessing internet on ur PC......
step 1.......
open internet option in the control panel........
step 2.......
click on the connection tab in it.......
step 3.........
click on the LAN setting available in it..........
step 4.............
enable proxy option in it.............
step 5...........
write an address in the space available in it.....127.0.0.1
step 6.........
click ok.........
and now check ur pc it shows an error on opening internet browsers.............
enjoy it and protect ur PC from others..............
November 7, 2010 12:46 AM
It is very simple. I have built many simple switches for friends. Assemble a 3 Jack box similar in shape and size of an old fashioned wall phone jack box. Parts are all available at electronic stores. Two jack squares on one end go to internet and other to computer. The one on the other side gets the blank that comes with the box. drill a hole in that blank, and insert a 4 pole double throw toggle switch. Wire it together. The 4 blue and black do not go through the switch, but each wraps around each pair of the switch wires coming to and from. My cost is $12, and I can build one in an hour. I charge my friends $32 total. If you need me to build one for you, just email! I'm on a pension and can use the spare change! John! bummybeans.com
P.S., As for us, We like to keep our computers on, but are leery providing to the entire cyber world, access to our computers while we sleep. It has been proven we cannot fully trust our firewall protections against attackers at all times.
Switches can be attached to the wall or under the desktop by a wood screw, or double sticky taped to the side of each computer.
Wishing you the best, and I hope this idea will help you many others! John
November 13, 2010 4:11 PM
If you have a program capable of switching proxies on the fly (like my ancient copy of the Proxomitron web filter), you can try this trick.
Set up a proxy that goes nowhere (such as to 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.1). To prevent any new connections, just temporarily switch to using that non-existent proxy.
June 16, 2011 9:45 PM
The easy way to do this is to unplug the LAN cable. That is it !!!
January 24, 2012 2:02 PM
On my gateway to shut down internet (wireless) you can press Fn+F2 (the antennae symbol). Maybe this will work for you......