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
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.
Posted by: Adrian Waalwijk at February 17, 2007 7:03 AMNow 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:
Posted by: qazeem at December 21, 2007 7:12 AMlocal area networkingdeleted from the system or disabled by mistakes
how can i stop access to internet but need email fasility it is only for one computer and it is for business
Posted by: roland at March 5, 2008 12:55 AMthanks
In XP, go into Control Panel > Network Connections - find the connection that you want to disable. While holding the Control key, drag it onto the desktop. You'll get a shortcut to that connection. You can right-click the shortcut & select Disable to stop traffic. When you want it back, right-click again & select Enable.
Posted by: bob at September 12, 2009 12:15 AMI use the "stop all internet activity" feature in ZoneAlarm to stop network activity on my machine, so maybe this would work for you, and of course it's a free program :) It takes 2 clicks to switch on and off.
Posted by: Mark Nesja at January 20, 2010 1:16 PM