Restrict Internet Access

Diddy Kong

Hey All,

Im looking for a program or a way to restrict dial up internet access on a home PC to certain times of the day (ie during off peak times). I dont really want to go trough setting up individual account etc.
The machine is Windows XP Pro. The admin account is hidden from the users, so the machine auto loads into a "home" account.

Before anyone says it, I have already searched the forum and most post are for restricting BB connection or are not relavent.

Can anyone suggest anything?

Capt'n Midnight

your router may have time settings

or use a scheduled NETSH script to change the default gateway
bit messy since you have to use maths in a batch file

or setup two home accounts, with time restrictions so they have to log off and back on again with the other locked one (setup a duff proxy in IE so they can't see the internet)

Diddy Kong

Router, its just a standard modem.

Sounds kinds messy, was hoping there was/is some program I can install on the admin account to do this (open app, insert times, bingo restricted)

Cheers Capt'n Midnight, I will take a look at it.

Any other ideas??

mr_disc

Is it an external modem ?... if so u could just get one of those power adapters with a timer on it and use it for the modem.... pretty basic but it would work.... u would have to hide it among the other leads though or they would be onto you !!............

We did this before on a site that was using ISDN and the server was dialing up constantly which resulted in pretty high phone bills ... couldnt see why the server was behaving like that so this was an easy ( very easy !! ) way out

( putting the adapter on the modem ... not server ! )

Diddy Kong

Nope, internal modem, thats a good idea though, must keep that in mind....

does anyone know if there is anything in the account settings/admin settings that could be used?

seamus

dbfarrell wrote:

does anyone know if there is anything in the account settings/admin settings that could be used?

No, there's nothing inbuilt in XP home to specifically do this.

At best, you could write a small VB Script which ran at logon to check what time of day it is, and the status of the Modem - if it's at peak time and the modem is enabled, then you disable it, etc. When scheduling it, you tell it to log on with a privileged account. Then you set up a non-privileged account and use that to auto logon. This prevents anyone from re-enabling the modem and/or changing the system time to force it to switch on the modem (though they can still change it in BIOS).

Diddy Kong

Ok, kinda found what i was looking for here - With iNet Protector you can restrict Internet access or password protect Internet connection at specified times or on demand. You can disable connection completely or limit Internet to work with allowed programs and services only.

Problem is, im cheap and dont want to spend 20squid on it..anyone know a free alternative?