Temporary Internet Turnoff Software for PC?
February 1, 2010 7:03 AM Subscribe
I found a free application called Freedom whereby one can disable one's internet access for up to eight hours, unless one re-boots. But it is exclusively for the Mac, and I run PC's. I can't find a version or a similar app for my Windows Vista-equipped PC. Does anyone know of such program?
I wish to try this app before I go the next step of disconnecting the modem. Go figure.
I wish to try this app before I go the next step of disconnecting the modem. Go figure.
If you're using Firefox, Leechblock does something similar- you can block the whole net or specific sites, for any block of time. As you can see I've not got it on right now...
posted by Erasmouse at 7:39 AM on February 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Erasmouse at 7:39 AM on February 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I found another cool Mac application. A firefox add-on would be okay, but one can always and easily just load Microsoft Internet Explorer.... And the network card would easily be re-enabled. The re-boot, however, takes time!
I posted this at home. Now I am at work, a-hem, and we are on a LAN. So I wouldn't want to disable the card... But home remains my biggest concern right now. So much internet, so little time!! :P
posted by swlabr at 7:47 AM on February 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
I posted this at home. Now I am at work, a-hem, and we are on a LAN. So I wouldn't want to disable the card... But home remains my biggest concern right now. So much internet, so little time!! :P
posted by swlabr at 7:47 AM on February 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Sounds like a challenge - I predict one will emerge within 48 hours...
posted by TravellingDen at 7:49 AM on February 1, 2010
posted by TravellingDen at 7:49 AM on February 1, 2010
Do you use a router? If you do, you should be able to set access rules from there. If you don't, get one. They make you safer, amongst other things.
Netnanny will do this.
You could also password protect your primary account, then create a user account for whomever you don't want on the web and limit his/her permissions. Also, you could install Microsoft Steady-State for the account in question, and limit EVERYTHING, as well as making the system impervious to change.
posted by TomMelee at 7:58 AM on February 1, 2010
Netnanny will do this.
You could also password protect your primary account, then create a user account for whomever you don't want on the web and limit his/her permissions. Also, you could install Microsoft Steady-State for the account in question, and limit EVERYTHING, as well as making the system impervious to change.
posted by TomMelee at 7:58 AM on February 1, 2010
Response by poster: I want to be able to limit my OWN permissions, and yet I also want to be able to go to many sites that I temporarily block when I have permission. For example, I might choose no internet for 8 hours; or, only my financial sites for 8 hours, would be nice. But the former is what I want most of all: Just block myself and then be unblocked later....
posted by swlabr at 8:16 AM on February 1, 2010
posted by swlabr at 8:16 AM on February 1, 2010
Seriously, then, get a router. Every Linksys I've ever seen provides this level of functionality.
posted by TomMelee at 8:27 AM on February 1, 2010
posted by TomMelee at 8:27 AM on February 1, 2010
A google search found this program. It may be what you're looking for.
posted by patheral at 8:29 AM on February 1, 2010
posted by patheral at 8:29 AM on February 1, 2010
Best answer: What you want is Temptation Blocker. It lets you let time limits for how long you are not allowed to use a certain program -- say, no Explorer for the next 4 hours. If I want more nuanced control, say, I want to be able to access nytimes, but not facebook, or I want to be able to access my email and only my email for 15 minutes every2 hours for the next 8 hours, then I use Leechblock, as Eramouse mentioned above. Leechblock is a Firefox extension, so you'll need Firefox.
posted by jujube at 10:26 AM on February 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jujube at 10:26 AM on February 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Windows 7 has this feature built in, at least for non-admin users.
But obviously any software you install, you'll be able to uninstall/disable.
posted by delmoi at 11:45 AM on February 1, 2010
But obviously any software you install, you'll be able to uninstall/disable.
posted by delmoi at 11:45 AM on February 1, 2010
Another vote for Temptation Blocker. I really missed it when I switched to a mac. Thanks for the link to Freedom.
posted by Hactar at 3:49 PM on February 1, 2010
posted by Hactar at 3:49 PM on February 1, 2010
Response by poster: I love LeachBlock so far, and I have gotten some "likes" on facebook when I posted it. :P
I also bought RescueTime, but it is too early to tell. It is free if I cancel in 14 days, and there is also a free but to-me useless "light" edition. I haven't done much experimentation with it.
I think I have just downloaded Temptation Blocker, and will give it a try, too.
The LeachBlock add-on is easy to work around, but it is a nice interface and incredibly flexible. Indeed, it allows one to make it quite difficult to do a work around, but for the availability of browsers other than Firefox. But hey? All I need is a strong reminder of deterrence.
I'll try to report back, if I am not either blocked by my programs or distracted! ;)
posted by swlabr at 9:26 AM on February 2, 2010
I also bought RescueTime, but it is too early to tell. It is free if I cancel in 14 days, and there is also a free but to-me useless "light" edition. I haven't done much experimentation with it.
I think I have just downloaded Temptation Blocker, and will give it a try, too.
The LeachBlock add-on is easy to work around, but it is a nice interface and incredibly flexible. Indeed, it allows one to make it quite difficult to do a work around, but for the availability of browsers other than Firefox. But hey? All I need is a strong reminder of deterrence.
I'll try to report back, if I am not either blocked by my programs or distracted! ;)
posted by swlabr at 9:26 AM on February 2, 2010
Response by poster: So far, Leachblock and Temptation Blocker are great! The former has many nice options. The latter is expansive because it can block, for a fixed period, any program you want (such as a game, browsers, email, etc.). Thank you all for your help! See you on schedule! ;)
posted by swlabr at 9:43 AM on February 4, 2010
posted by swlabr at 9:43 AM on February 4, 2010
Response by poster: Hey folks! A supremely nice person, who I think wrote Temptation Blocker, has gone another direction and made this cool-looking solution called Distraction Blocker. It looks good and I will be testing it later!
posted by swlabr at 9:53 AM on February 10, 2010
posted by swlabr at 9:53 AM on February 10, 2010
So, basically what you're saying is that you've successfully wasted a whole lot of time looking for software to help you stop wasting time?
posted by TomMelee at 7:54 AM on February 11, 2010
posted by TomMelee at 7:54 AM on February 11, 2010
Hi all. Full disclosure: I am the creator of Freedom. I just wanted to say that there is now a PC version of the software. It can be found at http://macfreedom.com.
posted by fstutzman at 5:29 PM on April 21, 2010
posted by fstutzman at 5:29 PM on April 21, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by swlabr at 7:30 AM on February 1, 2010 [2 favorites]